Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning Thursday to the Houthis in Yemen and their Iranian backers, following recent missile attacks from Yemeni territory toward Israel, warning Tehran could be targeted like the Yemeni capital was earlier this week.
"Israel must be able to defend itself on its own against any threat and any enemy. This was true in the face of many challenges in the past and will be true in the future," Katz emphasized in his statement.
The defense minister warned that "the Houthis will suffer heavy blows from Israel if they continue to fire at us," adding that "the IDF is prepared for any mission."
Katz also directed an explicit warning to the Iranian leadership, "I also warn the Iranian leadership that finances, arms and operates the Houthi terror organization. The proxy method is over and the axis of evil has collapsed. You bear direct responsibility."
The minister then raised the threat level by saying, "What we did to Hezbollah in Beirut, to Hamas in Gaza, to Assad in Damascus and to the Houthis in Yemen – we will also do to you in Tehran."
The sharp warning comes in response to missile fire from Yemen toward Israel in the past week, amid ongoing regional escalation. Security sources assess that Israel is weighing its response options, emphasizing the message that the country will not hesitate to respond forcefully against any threat.
"We will not allow any entity to harm Israel – and anyone who harms us will be severely harmed," the defense minister concluded in his statement.
