Ari Heistein on the American War on the Houthis, and the Israeli One

May 9, 2025

Ari Heistein, a business development expert in Israel and former chief of staff at the Institute for National Security Studies, delves into the recent missile strike near Ben-Gurion Airport by the Iran-backed Houthis. He discusses their transformation from a revivalist movement to a guerrilla force and examines their military supply chain supported by Iran. Heistein also highlights the impact of these missile strikes on Israel's tourism and security perceptions, emphasizing the urgent need for vigilance in the face of escalating threats.

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INSIGHT

Houthis' Religious Monarchy Goal

The Houthis seek to resurrect a religious monarchy led by descendants of the Prophet Muhammad in northern Yemen.
They prefer a Zaydi Shia revivalist governance favoring a minority ruling over a majority population.

INSIGHT

Houthis' Popularity and Strategy

Houthis initially used populist rhetoric against corruption and for justice to gain power.
They now focus on consolidating control and have low domestic popularity despite drawing support on the Palestinian issue.

INSIGHT

Iran's Military Support to Houthis

Iranian support to Houthis evolved from ideological training to provision of long-range missiles.
This military aid pressured Gulf states economically and militarily, influencing the Yemen conflict dynamics.

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On May 4, 2025, a ballistic missile traveling up to sixteen times faster than the speed of sound struck ground close to the terminal at Ben-Gurion airport, halting flight traffic and leaving a crater at the point of impact. It was the first time that the airport buildings themselves have been so close to a successful missile attack.

This particular missile was fired from a distance of 1,300 miles, from Yemen, the Arab nation situated to the south of Saudi Arabia, whose coastline opens up to the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the crucial Bab al-Mandab Straight, a narrow chokepoint in global shipping that allows ships to travel from India and points east through the Suez Canal and into the Mediterranean.

The missile was shot by the Houthis, a Shiite Islamist organization that is supported by, and operates in coordination with, Iran and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. They have been firing rockets at Israel for many months. Back in July 2024, they successfully struck an apartment building near the U.S. embassy’s Tel Avi branch. And since October 2023, they have been targeting commercial naval craft in the Red Sea.

Since March 2025, the United States has been conducting a campaign of air and naval strikes against the Houthis. But after the Ben-Gurion airport attack of May 4, the Israelis took matters into their own hands. On May 5, some 30 Israeli military aircraft attacked targets in Houthi-controlled Yemen, including the al-Imran cement factory and the Hodeidah port. On May 6, the Israelis destroyed the airport in Sana’a.

This week, we focus on the Houthis, their place in Yemen, their relationship to Iran, and the threats they pose towards global shipping and Israel. Discussing these topics with us is Ari Heistein, who works in business development in Israel, is a close intellectual collaborator with the former Israeli chief of defense intelligence Amos Yadlin, and until recently served as chief of staff at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies. This podcast was recorded on Tuesday morning, May 6, 2025.

Musical selections in this podcast are drawn from the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, op. 31a, composed by Paul Ben-Haim and performed by the ARC Ensemble.