Israel is demanding that the United States restart military strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels and form a multinational coalition to counter their escalating attacks on global shipping, dragging America into another Middle East mess.

Why it matters: The Houthis’ intensifying assaults on maritime traffic threaten international trade routes, particularly in the Red Sea, impacting global economies, but Israel’s pressure risks entangling the U.S. in a costly conflict Americans don’t want.

Driving the news: Israel has communicated to the United States that Houthi attacks “can no longer remain solely an Israeli problem,” pressing for “more intense combined attacks” involving renewed U.S. strikes and a coalition of additional countries, Kan News reported, citing a source familiar with the matter.

• The call comes amid recent Houthi attacks, including deadly seizures of two vessels.
• An unnamed Israeli security official told Kan: “A broad coalition is needed to convey to the Houthi regime that it is in danger.”
• The message was delivered during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Washington visit, though the communication channel was not specified.

Catch up quick: The Iran-backed Houthis, controlling much of Yemen, have targeted Israeli and international shipping since November 2023, in solidarity with Hamas, and a U.S.-led aerial campaign against the group paused in May 2025 after a Washington-Houthi agreement, but recent attacks have prompted Israel’s renewed push for American action.

The intrigue: Israel’s request aligns with Netanyahu’s broader diplomatic efforts in Washington, where he faces pressure to secure a Gaza ceasefire but is pivoting to frame Houthi aggression as a global issue to pull the U.S. deeper into the conflict.

Between the lines: Israel’s push for a coalition reflects frustration with the U.S. pause in strikes and a blatant move to rope America into footing the bill for their regional fights, sidestepping their own domestic criticism.

What they’re saying:

• “A broad coalition is needed to convey to the Houthi regime that it is in danger,” an unnamed Israeli security official told Kan News.
• “Israel has appealed to the United States to renew its attacks on the Houthis in Yemen,” Israeli Channel 11 reported, highlighting the urgency of the request.

The bottom line: Israel’s relentless pressure for U.S. strikes and a multinational coalition could drag America into another Middle East quagmire, and it’s time Washington questions why we’re always on the hook for Israel’s battles.