Israel Intensifies Gaza Airstrikes and Warns Houthis of Strong Retaliation Amid Regional Tensions

On April 22, 2025, Israel intensified airstrikes in Gaza, targeting Hamas in Rafah amid ongoing ground operations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Yemen's Houthi rebels of a strong response to recent missile attacks on Israel. The escalation highlights Israel's expanding military actions against Palestinian factions in Gaza and Iranian-backed militias in Yemen. The IDF has established a corridor in Rafah to dismantle Hamas, while Netanyahu's warning follows Houthi missile strikes near Tel Aviv. The situation has drawn international scrutiny, with concerns over regional stability and civilian casualties.

Israeli Airstrikes Intensify in Rafah

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have continued their offensive in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, as part of a broader campaign to dismantle Hamas’s remaining strongholds. The operation, which began on May 6, 2024, has seen heavy bombardment and ground maneuvers aimed at the Rafah Brigade of Hamas.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Israeli forces have established a 12-kilometer-long corridor, known as the Morag Corridor, to divide Hamas’s Rafah and Khan Yunis brigades. The corridor is now up to 2 kilometers wide in some areas, and IDF units, including Golani and the 188th Armored Brigade, are conducting operations to root out remaining militants and destroy Hamas infrastructure.

Recent airstrikes have targeted Hamas training compounds and command centers. On June 23, 2024, an Israeli airstrike reportedly killed eight people at an aid distribution center in Gaza, according to Reuters. The IDF stated that it was targeting Hamas operatives, while Palestinian officials described the incident as a massacre.

The humanitarian toll has been severe. Al Jazeera reported that entire neighborhoods in eastern Rafah have been “completely razed,” and ambulances have been targeted during the strikes. Despite international criticism, including from the United States and the European Union, Israel has maintained that the offensive is necessary to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages and to dismantle its military capabilities.

Netanyahu’s Warning to the Houthis

As the Gaza operation continues, Prime Minister Netanyahu has turned his attention to another front: Yemen. In a speech delivered in Jaffa on April 21, Netanyahu warned the Houthi rebels that Israel would retaliate forcefully for recent missile attacks.

“I want to say to the Houthis and all those who wish to harm us: any attack against us will not go unanswered. There will be a strong response,” Netanyahu declared. He emphasized that retaliation could occur “in Lebanon, in Gaza, and everywhere.”

The warning follows a series of missile and drone attacks launched by the Houthis, who claim to be acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. On December 21, 2024, a missile strike from Yemen injured 16 people near Tel Aviv. The Houthis also claimed to have targeted military sites in Ashkelon and Eilat, as well as U.S. aircraft carriers in the Red Sea.

Netanyahu’s office released a statement likening the Houthis to other Iranian-backed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. “As we have acted forcefully against the armed branches of the Iranian axis of evil, we will act against the Houthis with strength, determination, and wisdom,” the statement read.

Israeli Military Response to Houthi Threats

In response to the Houthi attacks, the Israeli military has already conducted airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. These strikes reportedly targeted missile storage facilities and command centers. While the IDF has not disclosed the full extent of its operations in Yemen, the actions mark a significant expansion of Israel’s military engagement beyond its immediate borders.

The Houthis, for their part, have vowed to continue their attacks unless Israel ends its military campaign in Gaza. Their spokesperson, Yahya Sari, has claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli cities and U.S. naval assets, although many of these claims remain unverified or have been intercepted by Israeli and allied defense systems.

The United States has also taken action against the Houthis, launching airstrikes in Yemen in response to attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis’ actions have raised concerns about global trade and regional stability, prompting coordinated military responses from both Israel and Western allies.

Regional and International Reactions

The escalation in both Gaza and Yemen has drawn international scrutiny. The European Union has urged Israel to comply with International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings regarding its operations in Rafah. The United States, Israel’s closest ally, has expressed reservations about the Rafah offensive, with President Biden previously threatening to withhold arms if civilian casualties continued to mount.

Despite this, Israeli officials have defended their actions. IDF Spokesman Brigadier-General Effi Deffrin reiterated that the military’s goals are to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages and to dismantle its political and military infrastructure. “The army will continue to put pressure on Hamas, which is what this formula requires,” he said.

Meanwhile, tensions with the Houthis are expected to persist. Netanyahu’s pledge to retaliate has heightened concerns of a broader regional conflict involving multiple Iranian-backed groups. The situation remains fluid, with further developments anticipated in the coming weeks.

References

• Rafah offensive - Wikipedia
• Netanyahu warns of "strong response" to recent Houthi attacks on Israel - International Herald
• The Prime Minister of Israel stated that a 'strong response' will be made to the missile attacks by the Houthi forces.
• Netanyahu Pledges a "Strong Response" to Houthi Attacks - Yemen Online |
• Red Sea crisis - Wikipedia