News - Middle East: In a significant shift in Israeli security assessments, former high-ranking military officials have publicly acknowledged that Yemen’s military capabilities now represent a strategic—not just tactical—threat, compelling a comprehensive review of Israel’s defense architecture and military policies.

Haimovich emphasized that the Yemeni response to the targeted killing was "unprecedented," involving the launch of ten drones and a similar number of missiles toward occupied territories in a very short time. He described this scale of attack as a "shift in approach and an escalation in the intensity of Yemeni responses," indicating that Yemen has moved beyond traditional retaliation to a higher level of confrontation that exceeds the containment capacity of Zionist defenses.

In his assessment of Yemeni capabilities, the former military official asserted that the Yemeni Armed Forces are no longer a "primitive force as previously described" but have evolved into a "sophisticated military power capable of inflicting strategic damage." He highlighted that years of war have granted Yemen extensive operational experience, enabling them to develop indigenous manufacturing capabilities and self-reliance in producing ballistic missiles and drones domestically—making them an autonomous force difficult to subdue.

As an example of evolving Yemeni tactics, Haimovich pointed to the attack targeting Ramon Airport in southern occupied Palestine, describing the operation as demonstrating "tactical evolution." A formation of four drones was launched along a coordinated path; while three were intercepted by defense systems, the fourth successfully hit its target. This partial failure, he argued, exposes "gaps" in the Zionist defense system, which now faces a "multi-directional aerial threat" requiring "360-degree readiness."

Senior Naval Commander Acknowledges Operational and Reputational Damage

In a related development, former Israeli Navy Commander Eliezer Marom (known as "Cheney") conceded that Yemen’s successful targeting of Ramon Airport represents an operational "achievement" for Sanaa with serious negative repercussions for Israel’s international reputation and foreign airline operations.

Hebrew media outlets quoted Marom on Monday affirming that the drone strike on Ramon Airport constitutes a "success" for Yemeni forces. This admission from a high-level Zionist military figure reflects the depth of the entity’s vulnerability to Yemeni attacks and their ability to achieve objectives despite the occupation’s advanced defense systems.

Marom’s warnings extended beyond the military sphere to international implications. He indicated that the event is "viewed negatively globally" and may "impact foreign airlines," suggesting that Yemeni operations not only affect Zionist security but also damage the entity’s international image, portraying it as an unsafe destination. This could prompt international airlines to reconsider flights to the occupied territories.

These statements occur amid growing anxiety within Zionist security and political circles regarding the Yemeni threat. Having previously dismissed Yemeni forces as "primitive," the entity now acknowledges their capacity to cause strategic harm, particularly in air and maritime navigation. This shift in rhetoric reflects a belated recognition of the severity of the Yemeni threat and the urgent need to address it with greater seriousness.

Implications and Outlook

The public admissions by senior retired officers signal a profound recalibration within Israeli security discourse. Yemen’s transition from a peripheral nuisance to a central strategic challenger underscores the failure of military solutions and sanctions to curb its capabilities.

Yemen has been enforcing effective aerial and maritime deterrence since October 2023, with ongoing operations aimed at supporting Gaza and countering Zionist aggression. The “airport-for-airport” strategy represents a qualitative shift, extending Yemeni response capabilities from traditional military targets to vital civilian infrastructure deep within enemy territory.

These developments expand Yemen’s strategic reach, challenge the Zionist entity’s sense of security far from frontline zones, and reinforce Yemen’s military and ideological commitment to defending Palestinian rights. The new deterrence formula underscores the failure of Israeli aggression to weaken Yemen’s resolve, while demonstrating the country’s growing operational capacity and willingness to impose strategic costs on the enemy.

Observers emphasize that this shift places Israel’s occupied airports—the backbone of its economic and military logistics—directly in Yemeni crosshairs, compelling the Zionist entity to reassess its risk calculations and pause its ongoing siege and attacks on Gaza.