Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has delivered on his vow of retribution against the Houthis, with an airstrike killing their prime minister and other senior officials. Calling it a “fatal blow,” Netanyahu made it clear that more of the group’s leaders are now targeted.
The strike on Sanaa was a direct response to the Houthis’ campaign of launching missiles at Israel and disrupting maritime trade since the beginning of the Gaza war. The group frames these actions as solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The successful assassination highlights a significant improvement in Israel’s intelligence and long-range strike capabilities. The mission was not a complete success, however, as it failed to kill the Houthi chief of staff and defense minister.
The Houthis have promised to retaliate fiercely for the attack. While security experts see the raid as a “remarkable” achievement that puts the leadership on the defensive, they doubt it will stop the missile attacks, which are driven by a powerful ideological commitment.
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