Security cabinet ministers were summoned to approve Yemen attack; TV report says ‘significant response’ seen possible

The plans for Israel’s strike in Yemen had been drawn up in advance, and were implemented in the wake of the early Friday deadly Houthi drone strike on Tel Aviv, Channel 12 reports.

It says ministers in the security cabinet approved the operation at a meeting that began at around 2:30 p.m. today, having been summoned to the meeting just 45 minutes earlier. The summons was made by National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, who ordered them not to discuss the meeting.

The report notes that this decision-making forum is required to approve actions that could potentially lead to war. It says that, in this case, “there is of course the possibility of a significant response.”

Channel 12 says Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara insisted that the security cabinet be convened to approve the attack.

The cabinet meeting lasted for four hours. The attack was carried out while the ministers were gathered.

It is extremely unusual for cabinet meetings to convene on Shabbat.

The decision in principle to carry out the operation had been taken earlier, the report notes, to ensure that the window of opportunity was not missed.

The operation was subjected to military censorship until the past few minutes.

Israel informed the United States ahead of the operation, the TV report says, as well as other allies — “presumably” including Egypt and others in the region who would need to not be surprised.