The Houthis in Yemen are reportedly planning to intensify their attacks despite diplomatic efforts by Oman's envoy to Iran seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict. According to Al-Akhbar newspaper, which is known to be pro-Iranian, the U.S. has again offered to reduce its strikes in Yemen if the Houthis stop launching attacks toward Israel.
Sources close to the Houthi government told the Iranian-backed newspaper that the U.S. is trying to pause attacks to give international mediators a chance to end the war in Gaza. They noted renewed mediation efforts by Oman, which borders Saudi Arabia and Yemen, through its Foreign Minister's visit to Iran.
However, a political source in Sanaa told Al-Akhbar that the Houthis' position on Gaza "remains firm and non-negotiable," as it was a year ago. Analysts believe the Houthis see the White House as having significant influence over events in Gaza and are refusing mediation in hopes of forcing an end to the fighting.
The Houthis are reportedly preparing for a "new and extensive phase of escalation" against Israel in the new year. Sources in Sanaa threatened surprises in upcoming attacks, saying they plan to use new ballistic missiles, increase attack frequency, and impose new conditions in the maritime confrontation with Israel.
Early Friday morning (4:34 AM), sirens sounded across multiple Israeli communities as a ballistic missile was launched from Yemen. The IDF reported intercepting the missile, though interceptor debris fell in an open area in Modi'in. Two weeks ago, debris from an Israeli interceptor that took down a Yemeni missile hit a school building in Ramat Gan, highlighting the danger from these attacks aimed at disrupting daily life in Israel.
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