‘Houthis Will Pay With Compound Interest’

Israeli Navy Responds to Repeated Attacks by Striking Houthi-controlled Power Plant in Yemen

FDD | August 17, 2025

Latest Developments

Israel Strikes Sana’a: The Israeli Navy conducted a long-distance strike against the Houthi-controlled Haziz power station near the Yemeni capital of Sana’a on August 17, responding to “repeated attacks by the Houthi terror regime against the State of Israel and its citizens.” Local media reported large explosions that knocked generators out of service. The Iran-backed Houthis have launched at least seven unanswered ballistic missiles and seven drones against Israel since the last time the IDF struck Houthi targets on July 21.

Katz Vows to Continue Strikes: The Houthis replied hours later by launching a ballistic missile towards Israel, sending Israeli civilians into bomb shelters. The missile was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force, causing no injuries. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed that the “Houthis will pay with compound interest for every attempt to fire at Israel.”  He added that the morning’s strike was just the beginning. “The continuation will be strong and painful,” he said on X. “Whoever raises a hand against Israel — their hand will be cut off.”

Threatening Attacks on International Shipping: In late July, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree threatened to escalate attacks on international shipping to impose a naval blockade on Israel. Saree warned that the group will target “all ships belonging to any company that deals with the ports of the Israeli enemy.” Since November 2023, when the Houthis began attacking Israel in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza, they have launched more than 145 attacks on vessels in the region using missiles and drones, taking dozens of crew members hostage, killing at least eight, and sinking at least four ships.

FDD Expert Response

“Israel’s campaign against Houthi infrastructure has re-initiated, and not a moment too soon. Time has shown that the only response that deters Iranian proxy misbehavior is aggressive cost imposition. Israel will need to do more of these strikes if it wants to prevent Houthi actions in the future — and the United States would be well advised to join Israel in these strikes in Yemen.” — RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, Senior Fellow and Senior Director of FDD’s Center on Cyber and Technology

“The Houthis’ propaganda strategy has centered on projecting the image of enforcing a sea and air blockade on Israel in response to the war in Gaza. In reality, they cannot impose such a blockade in a significant or sustained way. Conversely, Defense Minister Katz’s remarks should not be understood as a literal declaration of an Israeli blockade against the Houthis. Rather, Katz turned the Houthis’ rhetoric of imposing a blockade on Israel back against them, framing that the Jewish state is conducting the same measures in a complicated war of information.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

FDD Background and Analysis

“The Houthis and the U.N.’s Ship of Fools,” by Max Meizlish and Bridget Toomey

“Houthis continue to attack education in Yemen,” by Bridget Toomey

“Houthis Threaten to Target All Ships Belonging to Companies Conducting Commerce With Israel,” FDD Flash Brief

“A Deal with the Houthis Is No Deal at All,” by Mark Dubowitz and Koby Gottleib