Watan–Israel is exploring new strategies to address the increasing attacks by the Houthis on Israeli ships in the Red Sea, which have disrupted navigation and raised security costs for Tel Aviv. In an unprecedented move, the Israeli military has begun recruiting Yemeni Jews into its Military Intelligence Directorate (AMAN) to leverage their deep understanding of the Yemeni dialect and tribal customs to infiltrate the Houthi Ansar Allah group, which has become a strategic threat to Israel in the region.
The decision to enlist Yemeni Jews stems from the intelligence challenges Israel faces in gathering precise information about the Houthis and their military movements. Known for their strict security discipline, the Houthis rely on a robust internal intelligence network, making it difficult for external agents to penetrate their ranks. For this reason, Israel believes that utilizing Jews of Yemeni origin, who are fluent in Arabic and familiar with Yemen’s tribal dynamics, could provide a more effective pathway to accessing sensitive information about the group and its activities.
Reports indicate that the Yemeni Jewish recruits have undergone intensive training within specialized Israeli military units. These training programs include intelligence-gathering techniques, covert operations within tribal communities, and cyber warfare targeting the Houthis’ digital infrastructure. Recruits have also been trained in sowing rumors and fostering divisions within the group, with the aim of destabilizing it and weakening its ability to carry out attacks against Israel and its allies in the region.
Israel is betting on this strategy to tighten the noose around the Houthis, especially as American pressure on Tel Aviv continues to mount to find a resolution to the escalating crisis in the Red Sea. However, despite intense intelligence efforts, significant challenges remain. The Houthis have demonstrated time and again their ability to maintain a strict security apparatus capable of exposing agents and spies, making this attempt a gamble that could backfire.
Amid these developments, the question remains whether Israel will succeed in executing its new plan. Will Yemeni Jews manage to infiltrate the group effectively, or will the Houthis uncover the plot before it achieves its objectives? For now, it seems that Israel is still searching for alternative ways to address this complex challenge, especially as the Houthis continue their military operations unabated.
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