Houthis Unveil New Strategy to Cripple Israel Economically, Target Haifa and Ben Gurion Airport

As the Gaza conflict intensifies, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have escalated their campaign against Israel by announcing a bold new strategy aimed at inflicting serious economic damage. According to senior Houthi (Ansar Allah) member Mohammed al-Farah, the group has now begun targeting Israel’s crucial Haifa Port and plans to extend attacks to Ben Gurion Airport.

“Haifa is the New Target”

Al-Farah told Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen news agency that the Houthis successfully hit Haifa — Israel’s most important commercial port — and warned of “more surprise attacks” soon. The group claims to have already crippled operations at the southern port of Eilat through sustained drone and missile strikes, disrupting Israeli maritime trade in the Red Sea.

A Shift to Strategic Targets

With Eilat largely out of service, much of Israel’s economic and trade activity has shifted north to Haifa. The Houthis now claim they are focused on shutting down Haifa and Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv — both vital to Israel’s economic infrastructure. If successful, this could significantly cripple Israeli imports, exports, and international travel.

Long-Range Capability with Iran's Help

Though Yemen is geographically distant from Haifa and Tel Aviv, the Houthis, backed by Iran, reportedly possess long-range drones and missiles capable of reaching deep inside Israeli territory. These weapons are allegedly similar to those used in previous strikes against Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Economic Impact Already Visible

Al-Farah said the Houthi missile campaigns have already had a tangible impact, particularly on Israel’s tourism and investment sectors. “After our campaigns, no one is thinking of investing or vacationing in Israel anymore,” he claimed, adding that their actions are calculated to maximize both security and political consequences for Israel.

Context: Regional Proxy Pressure

This development underscores the widening scope of the Israel-Gaza conflict, with regional militias like the Houthis and Hezbollah stepping up pressure on Israel. Hezbollah had previously launched rockets toward Haifa, prompting Israeli retaliation. The Houthi strategy appears to be part of a broader Iran-aligned effort to stretch Israel’s defenses across multiple fronts.