Israel has pledged to target the leadership of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen after the group claimed responsibility for recent missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory.
“Just as we took care of [Yayha] Sinwar in Gaza, [Ismail] Haniyeh in Tehran, and [Hassan] Nasrallah in Beirut, we will deal with the heads of the Houthis in Sana’a or anywhere in Yemen,” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday, as reported by the Times of Israel.
The statement followed the firing of a ballistic missile by the Houthis early Tuesday, which triggered sirens across central Israel.
Israel’s Arrow air defence system intercepted the missile before entering Israeli airspace. While there were no direct casualties, one individual sustained serious injuries in the rush to find shelter, sparking brief panic in the area.
On Friday, a Houthi missile explosion in a Tel Aviv playground left 16 people injured.
Over the past year, the Houthis have launched at least 200 missiles and 170 drones at Israel. While Israel has previously targeted Houthi infrastructure in Yemen, Katz signalled a significant escalation.
“We will act both against their infrastructure and against them to remove the threat,” he stated, further warning Iran of severe consequences for sponsoring Houthi terrorism.
Iran has long been accused of backing extremist groups in the region, including the Houthis, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza.
Katz’s remarks align with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent statements, asserting that Israel will counter the Houthis as it has other Iranian proxies.
The Houthis, emboldened by Iran’s support, have intensified disruptions in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, targeting shipping lanes to impact Israeli supply routes.
Israeli leaders, including senior politician Benny Gantz, have hinted at directly targeting Iran to curb its influence in the region. Israel has previously destroyed Iranian launch sites following direct missile barrages from Iran.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah’s aggression from Lebanon was subdued in November after Israel launched a decisive offensive, eliminating its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, and crippling its operational capabilities.
As tensions escalate, the international community watches closely, anticipating potential repercussions for regional stability.
