The cabinet gathered today for an extremely unusual meeting during Shabbat. Ministers Smotrich and Ben Gvir also came, since it is a matter of supervision.
Prime Minister Netanyahu insisted on a significant attack, and not a relatively minor "demonstration of capability" as was done in Iran.
In the end, and after confrontations in the room, Netanyahu's line was accepted and it was decided to attack the Houthis' oil infrastructure.
This goal was chosen for several reasons:
1. The Houthis have almost no sources of income except for the oil industry - we hit them where it hurts the most.
2. A message to Iran: your oil facilities, which are no further than those of the Houthis - next in line.
3. A strong mind effect due to the massive explosions in the refineries and other oil infrastructures.
The Air Force planes covered a distance of about 4,000 km (round trip), as mentioned - slightly greater than the distance to Iran and back. Squadron 120 ("Desert Giants") participated in the attack, the refueling squadron of the Air Force, which helped the attack planes reach their destination and return safely.