Yemen Monitor/ Newsroom:
Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi group, announced on Saturday evening that his group would participate with “all it can” in the Iranian response to the recent Israeli attack. This statement came during a speech delivered on the occasion of the group’s celebration of Ghadir Day, also known as “Wilayah.”
Al-Houthi affirmed his group’s absolute support for Tehran, describing the Israeli military operation against Iran as an “unjust aggression,” and indicating that his group would be “part of the current response.”
He stated: “We in Yemen support the Iranian response and are participating in this stance with all that we can.”
During his speech, al-Houthi was keen to reassure his followers about the repercussions of the Israeli attack, noting that the situation in Iran is “strong and cohesive” on both military and economic levels, and does not cause concern, as he put it.
Al-Houthi considered the Israeli attack an “opportunity” to restore dignity to Iran and the entire “axis of resistance,” as he described it, calling for escalation against what he called the “arrogance and criminality of the Israeli enemy.”
Early Friday, Israel launched a series of airstrikes, described as the “widest in decades,” targeting nuclear facilities and missile bases deep within Iran, as well as military and scientific figures. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the operation as a “preemptive strike aimed at paralyzing Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities.”
In an immediate escalation, Iran retaliated with a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli cities and sites, most notably Tel Aviv, where Hebrew media reported the shelling of a strategic location whose details were not disclosed due to military censorship. According to Israeli media, the Iranian strikes resulted in three deaths and over 170 injuries, in addition to significant material damage.
