Abdul Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Houthi movement (Ansar Allah), has warned of a “dangerous military response” against Israel following the recent assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr.
Al-Houthi’s statement, made on August 1, escalates tensions in the region and reflects the broader “Axis of Islamic Resistance” rhetoric against Israel.
He criticized European attempts to pressure Iran into a “symbolic” response, urging instead for a significant military retaliation against what he describes as blatant Israeli crimes.
This threat comes in the wake of increased conflict in the region, including the killing of Haniyeh in Tehran and Shukr in Beirut by Israeli forces. Hamas has blamed Israel and the U.S. for Haniyeh’s death, while both Washington and Tel Aviv have denied involvement. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the Israeli government have refrained from commenting on the incident.
The Houthi threat and the recent violence highlight the ongoing volatility in the Middle East, with the potential for broader conflict if the tensions between these groups and Israel continue to escalate.