Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a rare and direct escalation of rhetoric, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Friday issued a stark threat to Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen’s Houthi movement, warning that his time will come following Israel’s targeted assassinations of senior Houthi figures last month.
Posting on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Katz declared:
“Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, your turn will come.”
The defense minister added that al-Houthi would soon “join the entire body of his government and all the saboteurs of the axis of evil, who are now waiting in the depths of hell.”
He further mocked the Houthi slogan “Death to Israel, Curse the Jews,” claiming it would be replaced by the Israeli flag flying over the capital of a united Yemen, in what appeared to be a provocative reference to regime change.
Background of the Tensions
Katz’s comments follow the Israeli airstrikes on Sana’a in August, which reportedly killed several top members of the Houthi-aligned government, including a former prime minister. The attacks, which were later acknowledged by Israeli media as part of a pre-emptive effort to dismantle what they described as an emerging “terror axis,” sparked outrage in Yemen and across much of the Arab world.
On September 1, Houthi officials held funerals in Sana’a for the slain leaders, who were honored as martyrs by the group. According to the Houthi-run Saba News Agency, the funeral procession included thousands of supporters and was accompanied by renewed vows of resistance.
Strategic Implications
Katz’s remarks represent one of the most direct and personal threats made by an Israeli official against a foreign leader in recent memory. His statement also underscores the growing regional scope of Israel’s ongoing military campaign, which initially focused on Gaza but has since extended to Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and now Yemen.
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran and form a key part of what Israel and Western analysts refer to as the “Axis of Resistance,” have escalated attacks on Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea and have openly declared their support for Hamas in Gaza. They’ve also launched ballistic missiles and drones toward southern Israel, though many have been intercepted by the Israeli military or U.S. forces stationed in the region.
A Dangerous Escalation
Analysts warn that Katz’s comments could escalate tensions further in an already volatile region, possibly triggering retaliatory action by the Houthis, who possess an increasingly sophisticated arsenal of long-range missiles and drones. Al-Houthi himself has, in recent speeches, vowed to continue operations against Israeli and Western targets.
The remarks may also complicate international efforts to broker calm in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, where global shipping has been severely disrupted by Houthi attacks and the resulting military responses by the U.S., U.K., and Israel.
Broader Context
Katz’s statement comes amid a broader regional conflagration ignited by the war in Gaza, now in its second year. Israel has significantly expanded its targeting of perceived Iranian proxies across the Middle East. In response, these groups including Hezbollah, militias in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthis have coordinated attacks and vowed unified resistance.
In light of these developments, Friday’s threat may not only be symbolic but also signal Israel’s intention to expand its military campaign further into the Arabian Peninsula, a move that could drag Yemen deeper into a conflict that is already engulfing multiple countries.
As of now, no official response has been issued by Abdul-Malik al-Houthi or the Houthi political leadership, but given the group’s recent rhetoric and battlefield posture, retaliation is likely.
