Israel Enhances Security Amid Houthi Retaliation Threats
Following the elimination of top Houthi leaders in Yemen, Israel has intensified security measures around its senior officials in response to the group's vows of retaliation.
Israel has significantly increased security measures for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and other senior officials after the elimination of top Houthi leaders in Yemen. The Shin Bet is implementing "special and unusual" protective actions in response to the Houthi rebels' vows of revenge.
Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser Al-Rahawi, the prime minister of Yemen's Houthi government, along with several ministers, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sanaa. Houthi leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi declared the group would continue targeting Israel with missiles and drones, promising to escalate these attacks.
In light of these threats, Israel's weekly cabinet meeting was held in a secure, undisclosed location. Netanyahu dismissed the Houthi leader's promises to strike and destroy Israel, stating, "That promise will not be fulfilled." He emphasized Israel's commitment to intensifying actions against the Houthi regime, noting that the IDF had eliminated most of the Houthi government and additional military officials. Netanyahu asserted, "This is only the beginning of the campaign targeting senior officials in Sanaa. We will reach all of them."
The Houthis have launched repeated drone and missile attacks on Israel since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023. In response, Israel has been striking Houthi targets for months, countering the rebels' attacks, which they claim are in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
A Yemeni security source reported that Houthi authorities had arrested dozens of people in Sanaa and other areas on suspicion of collaborating with Israel. Additionally, the United Nations stated that the Houthis had detained at least 11 workers in raids on UN premises.
Late Sunday, a Liberia-flagged, Israeli-owned tanker reported an explosion nearby, southwest of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port city of Yanbu. The vessel's crew was safe, and it continued its voyage. While it was not immediately clear if the Houthis were involved, the group did not provide immediate comment on the incident. The Houthis have previously targeted vessels in the Red Sea they deem affiliated with Israel, purportedly in support of Gaza.