Israel estimates that "there will be no escape from establishing an international coalition to act against the Houthis" - after the Yemeni rebels took control of the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the end of the week.
A senior Israeli official told Itai Blumenthal of Kan News that if an international coalition is not formed to act against the Houthi threat, "anarchy could break out in one of the world's most important shipping lanes.".
In the strait that the Houthis have taken control of, hundreds of ships pass through every day on their way from Asia to Africa and the Middle East - including to Israel.
Taking control of the strategic strait will allow the Houthi terrorist organization to block the strait using relatively simple means: Kornet missiles or bomb boats, and to close the strait without the need to operate radars or shore-to-sea missiles.
At this stage, Israel tends not to intervene in the current conflict between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, while at the same time talks on the issue have begun with regional partners led by the US.
The Houthi rebels in Yemen took advantage of the lack of international attention to consolidate their hold on the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the request of Iran.
The Houthis' takeover of the nearby port city of Al-Mukha is one of their greatest achievements in recent years.
