Israel’s recent operation against Houthi fighters resulted in casualties, yet failed to eliminate any high-ranking commanders. The operation, which included attempts to target the Houthi military chief and Yemeni President, highlights the challenges Israel faces in Yemen. Why did this operation, which deployed significant resources, fail to achieve its primary objective?
The key issues include challenges in language decoding, inadequate preparation, and the decentralized nature of the Houthi leadership. The Houthis communicate in code words, adding to the difficulty in deciphering their communications and activities. Furthermore, the lack of established command structures within the Houthi ranks complicates the targeting of key leaders.