Condolence messages sent by Yemen’s Houthi movement to Hezbollah’s deputy secretary-general, Naim Qassem, after the killing of senior commander Haytham Ali Tabtabai in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburb last Sunday, quickly took on a political edge.
Rather than merely expressing grief, the messages were widely read as a call for Hezbollah to resume open confrontation with Israel despite the ceasefire.
Although framed as tributes to a fallen ally, the language used by the Houthi leadership carried pointed political signals about how it views the next phase of the regional conflict.
In a strongly worded message, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi described Tabtabai’s death as a “necessary martyrdom,” arguing that it obliges Hezbollah to continue on the “path of jihad.”
He asserted that Israel “will not abide by a ceasefire” in Lebanon, and that developments in Gaza and southern Lebanon “prove that confrontation is a destiny that cannot be reversed.” He praised the “steadfastness of the Lebanese resistance,” adding that Hezbollah’s “distinguished role cannot stop.”
Yemeni political analysts say this rhetoric reflects the Houthis’ interest in keeping the Lebanese front active.
By ensuring that another arena remains unstable, the group can justify its own operations in the Red Sea and continue presenting attacks on shipping and maritime routes as part of a regional campaign to “support Gaza,” rather than actions driven by internal political calculations.
The message from Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a senior figure in the movement and cousin of the group’s leader, left even less room for ambiguity.
He linked Tabtabai’s killing directly to the “necessity of continuing resistance,” describing Hezbollah’s operations as “the only way to deter Israel.” He accused the United States of responsibility for the assassination and declared that the Houthis are “ready” to stand with Hezbollah in Lebanon and alongside Palestinian factions, in a clear attempt to reaffirm their role within Iran’s broader regional alliance.
Yemeni analysts say that part of the military advances made by the Houthi movement over the past decade can be traced to training and expertise provided by Hezbollah officers, including Tabtabai.
They note that within the broader regional confrontation pitting Iran and its allied groups against Israel, the latest Houthi messages are unlikely to directly alter Hezbollah’s strategy.
However, the tone reflects growing concern within the movement that a quiet Lebanese front would allow Israel to concentrate on degrading Houthi capabilities and targeting their leadership, particularly after the series of strikes the group has absorbed in recent months.
The Houthis had earlier declared a halt to attacks on Israel and against shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, following the ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas in October.
The group said at the time that it would monitor developments while remaining ready to resume operations if the deal faltered, according to statements by its leader.
