Sana'a – Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stark warning on Friday, declaring that Yemen will face the same fate as Iran if Houthi attacks against Israel continue. “This is just the beginning,” Katz said, referencing Israel’s recent military campaign against Tehran and its escalating strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.

The statement follows a wave of Israeli airstrikes on Sana’a and other Houthi-controlled areas, including a high-profile attack on August 28 that killed several senior officials, among them Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and Defense Minister Mohamed al-Atifi. The strikes were part of Operation Lucky Drop, Israel’s latest effort to dismantle the Houthi leadership amid rising tensions in the Red Sea.

Katz’s remarks echo earlier comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who praised the Israeli Air Force for its “impeccable mission” and vowed to retaliate against any aggression targeting Israel. “Whoever attacks us—we attack them. Whoever is planning to attack us—we attack them,” Netanyahu said during a visit to the IAF Command Center.

The Houthis, backed by Iran, have intensified drone and missile attacks on Israeli territory and international shipping lanes, framing their campaign as solidarity with Palestinians. In response, Israel has expanded its military operations beyond Gaza and Lebanon, targeting what it calls “terrorist infrastructure” in Yemen.

Regional analysts warn that the rhetoric from Israeli officials signals a broader shift in strategy, potentially drawing Yemen deeper into the regional conflict. As Defense Minister Katz put it: “Yemen’s fate is Iran’s fate. This is just the beginning.”