A Calculated Strike: Israel’s Aims to Deter and Degrade Houthi Forces

Israel’s airstrikes on Sanaa were a calculated military operation with two primary objectives: to deter the Houthis from future attacks and to degrade their existing capabilities. The choice of targets and the force employed were tailored to achieve these goals.
To deter, Israel struck high-profile targets like the presidential palace compound, sending a message that the regime’s leadership is vulnerable. Public statements from Prime Minister Netanyahu about a “heavy price” reinforced this psychological element of the operation.
To degrade, Israel hit critical military infrastructure, including a fuel depot and power stations. These strikes were aimed at physically hampering the Houthis’ ability to fuel their vehicles, power their systems, and launch more missiles, thereby reducing the immediate threat.
The operation, which came in response to a Houthi cluster bomb attack, was a textbook example of using military force for strategic ends. While the human cost was high, with six dead and dozens wounded, the strikes were executed with clear political and military aims in mind.