Israel's Defense Minister Warns Yemen's Houthis of Heavy Retaliation

FILED - 26 March 2024, Israel, Jerusalem: Then Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz greets German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at an hotel in Jerusalem. Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa
FILED - 26 March 2024, Israel, Jerusalem: Then Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz greets German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at an hotel in Jerusalem. Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa
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Israel's Defense Minister Warns Yemen's Houthis of Heavy Retaliation

FILED - 26 March 2024, Israel, Jerusalem: Then Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz greets German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at an hotel in Jerusalem. Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa
FILED - 26 March 2024, Israel, Jerusalem: Then Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz greets German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at an hotel in Jerusalem. Photo: Christoph Soeder/dpa

Israel's defense minister on Thursday warned Yemen's Houthis will suffer heavy blows if they continue to fire at Israel and that its defense forces are prepared for any mission.

US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the US would stop bombing the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, saying that the group had agreed to stop attacking US ships.

A ceasefire deal between Yemen's Houthis and the US does not include sparing Israel, the Houthis said on Wednesday, later saying they targeted Israel with drones.

"Israel must be able to defend itself on its own against any threat and any enemy," Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on X.

"The Houthis will suffer heavy blows from Israel if they continue to fire at us”, he said, adding that the Israeli army is prepared for any mission.

Katz also cautioned the Iranian leadership, which he accused of financing and arming the Houthi organization, declaring that the proxy system is over and "the axis of evil has collapsed."

He stated that Iran bears direct responsibility and warned that actions similar to those taken against Hezbollah in Beirut, Hamas in Gaza, Assad in Damascus, and the Houthis in Yemen could be carried out in Tehran.



Houthis in Yemen Say They Won’t End Support for Gaza

 Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
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Houthis in Yemen Say They Won’t End Support for Gaza

 Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)
Houthi supporters chant slogans during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israel rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP)

A top leader of the Iran-backed-Houthi militias in Yemen said they will keep up their support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip until Israeli “aggression stops, and the siege is lifted.”

“Our operations in support of Gaza will not cease, no matter the sacrifices,” said Mahdi al-Mashat in a statement Wednesday.

The Houthis are the last militant group in Iran’s self-described “Axis of Resistance” that is capable of regularly attacking Israel.

They have been firing long-range missiles at Israel in the months since it resumed the war in Gaza, setting off air raid sirens but generally causing few casualties. They have also been attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.