Houthi fighters have rehearsed raids on mock Israeli communities, while the IDF is conducting major defensive exercises around Eilat to prepare for possible attacks from land and sea.
By Hezy Laing
The Houthis are based in Yemen, approximately 1,800 kilometers from Israel, but the distance has not stopped the Iranian-backed movement from repeatedly targeting the country with missiles and drones. Now, Israeli defense officials are also preparing for a different kind of threat: a possible ground or maritime assault aimed at Israeli territory.
Israeli defense officials have raised concerns about the Houthis’ growing ability to carry out surprise attacks from both directions. The IDF is expected to establish a dedicated fire coordination center within the Edom Division as part of preparations for a possible attack.
The concerns are not based solely on Houthi rhetoric. Over the past two years, the group has released footage of military exercises in which its fighters simulate attacks on Israeli military positions and civilian communities.
In January 2024, the Houthis published footage showing armed fighters storming a mock Israeli settlement, breaching its perimeter and entering buildings marked with Stars of David. The exercise also included simulated hostage-taking, with fighters dragging away people dressed as civilians.
Other exercises have featured simulated attacks on Israeli military installations and command centers, with fighters practicing coordinated assaults and the capture of soldiers. In June 2024, footage also emerged of an exercise involving a mockup of the southern Israeli city of Dimona.
These videos demonstrate that the Houthis are deliberately preparing their fighters for scenarios involving Israeli targets. They do not, however, prove that an actual invasion plan has been approved or that the group currently possesses the capabilities to carry one out.
Could Houthi fighters reach Israel?
Geography is the greatest obstacle facing the Houthis. Yemen does not share a border with Israel, meaning any ground assault would require fighters to travel through other countries, coordinate with regional allies and overcome considerable logistical challenges.
One possible scenario involves Houthi operatives or allied Iranian-backed militias attempting to reach Israel through Iraq and Jordan. The long Jordanian frontier presents a significant security challenge, particularly because of weapons-smuggling networks and the possibility that hostile groups could exploit instability in neighboring countries.
Israel has been strengthening its eastern defenses to address these broader threats. In September 2025, the IDF formally established the 96th Division, known as Gilead, to protect the eastern border in the Jordan Valley, the valleys and the Dead Sea region. Its mission is broader than the Houthi threat, but the division is an important part of Israel’s effort to prevent infiltrations from the east.
The maritime route presents a different set of challenges. The Houthis have demonstrated their ability to threaten shipping in the Red Sea, attack commercial vessels and use explosive boats, but striking a ship is very different from transporting an organized assault force across the sea and landing it on Israeli territory.
Military analysts have questioned whether the Houthis possess the amphibious capabilities needed for a substantial seaborne assault. Nevertheless, the possibility of a smaller infiltration attempt is a scenario Israeli planners cannot afford to ignore.
Concerns over a surprise attack on Eilat
The possibility of an attack on Eilat received particular attention in June 2026, following reports that Shin Bet chief David Zini had warned in closed security discussions that the southern resort city could face an October 7-style assault. According to the reports, the scenario involved a coordinated attack by several terrorist groups, potentially including Houthi fighters entering from Jordan or arriving by sea.
The warning generated considerable attention, but it requires an important qualification. The Shin Bet subsequently clarified that there was no concrete intelligence or specific warning of an impending attack on Eilat, describing the discussions as part of broader operational planning and an assessment of potential threats.
The concerns reflect Eilat’s unusual geographical position. Situated at Israel’s southern tip, the city borders Jordan and Egypt and sits on the Red Sea, making it an important strategic location that requires protection against threats from several directions.
The IDF prepares for multiple attack scenarios
Israel’s preparations are not limited to intelligence assessments. On September 9, 2026, the IDF announced that it had completed a major defensive exercise around Eilat and the Arava, led by the 80th Division and involving the Air Force and Navy.
The exercise included dozens of scenarios conducted across several areas simultaneously, including maritime infiltrations, hostage-taking, rocket attacks and mass-casualty incidents. Forces also practiced responding to infiltrations into military bases and civilian locations, including hotels, schools and beaches.
One particularly important element involved the unexpected activation of the 96th Division to manage a simulated infiltration from the eastern border toward the Dead Sea region. The exercise tested how quickly forces could be mobilized, move from routine operations to an emergency response and coordinate decisions across different military commands.
The IDF is also expected to establish a dedicated fire coordination center within the Edom Division. Additional preparations include maintaining reserve and rapid-response forces around Eilat, improving coordination between ground, naval and air units, and conducting joint exercises with the Israel Police and Border Police.
The purpose of these preparations is to ensure that an attempted infiltration can be detected and contained before it develops into a larger attack. This is particularly important in a region where several possible threats could emerge simultaneously, requiring different military branches to respond together.
A wider regional threat
The Houthi threat also has a broader regional dimension. Israeli defense officials are concerned that an escalation involving renewed Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia could trigger a wider confrontation, potentially drawing the United States into a more direct military response.
Israeli officials are also considering the possibility that the Houthis could target American interests in Israel during such an escalation. Intelligence and operational coordination between the IDF and US Central Command (CENTCOM) is intended to improve early warning and reduce the risk of a surprise attack.
The Houthis have already demonstrated that they can threaten Israel from thousands of kilometers away through missile and drone attacks. Their campaign against international shipping has also shown that they can disrupt important maritime routes and challenge much stronger military forces.
A conventional invasion of Israel from Yemen remains extraordinarily difficult, and there is no confirmed intelligence indicating that such an operation is imminent. But the Houthis’ training exercises, regional connections and demonstrated willingness to attack Israel explain why the IDF is preparing for a threat that extends beyond missiles and drones.
One important distinction is worth making: the IDF described the September exercise as a broad defensive-readiness drill, not as a response to a specific Houthi attack warning. Its scenarios nevertheless demonstrate that the military is preparing for precisely the kinds of infiltration and hostage-taking incidents that concern Israeli security officials.
