After a dramatic escalation in hostilities between Israel and Yemen, the Middle East finds itself on edge once more. The recent assassination of Yemen’s Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi and several senior cabinet ministers in late August 2025, reportedly the result of Israeli airstrikes on Sana’a, has triggered a wave of outrage and vows of retaliation from Yemeni leaders. According to AhlulBayt News Agency, leaders across Yemen’s political and military spectrum have spoken with one voice, promising what they call a “resolute and regretful response” to Israel.
That response has already begun to take shape. As reported by News18 and corroborated by multiple regional outlets, Yemen’s Ansarullah movement—more widely known as the Houthis—immediately launched missile attacks against Israel in the days following the assassination. These strikes, which the Houthis described as an act of vengeance for the killing of their prime minister and in solidarity with Palestinians, have added a fresh and dangerous layer to the already combustible situation in the region. The Houthis have made it clear: more retaliation is coming, and it may be unlike anything Israel has faced from Yemen before.
What, exactly, might that retaliation look like? According to AhlulBayt News Agency, Ansarullah’s arsenal has grown significantly in recent years. The group has developed a range of ballistic and cruise missiles, some of which are capable of striking deep inside Israel. Their recent unveiling of cluster missiles—used in an attack on Israeli-held territory just weeks ago—has raised alarm bells in Tel Aviv. These cluster munitions, designed to release smaller submunitions over a wide area, have proven especially difficult for Israel’s much-vaunted multi-layered air defense systems to intercept. The introduction of such weapons, experts say, could shift the balance of deterrence in the region.
But it’s not just missiles that worry Israeli officials. Yemen’s domestically produced long-range drones have become a central piece of their military strategy. These drones, capable of attacking targets that are otherwise difficult to reach, have been used to launch attacks on Israeli territory via both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. The dual-pronged approach—striking from both east and west—demonstrates not only the reach of Yemen’s capabilities but also a sophisticated understanding of operational surprise. As AhlulBayt News Agency notes, the combined use of missiles and drones “is an effective strategy for applying direct pressure on Tel Aviv and responding to the assassination of Yemeni officials.”
The maritime domain is another arena where Yemen has shown its teeth. The Red Sea, a crucial artery for Israeli shipping, has become increasingly hazardous. Over the past two years, Yemen has managed to halt Israeli shipping in these waters by deploying sea mines, launching large-scale missile strikes, and even seizing vessels. If this campaign continues—and all signs suggest it will—it could inflict what Yemeni officials call “irreparable damage” on Israel’s economic interests. Disrupting maritime trade isn’t just about dollars and cents; it’s about psychological pressure and the projection of power far beyond Yemen’s borders.
Modern warfare isn’t confined to the physical world, and Ansarullah knows it. Cyber warfare has emerged as a key component of their strategy. The group reportedly possesses the capability to penetrate Israeli computer networks, expose sensitive information, and disrupt critical digital infrastructure. When combined with physical attacks, cyber operations can amplify the impact, sowing confusion and undermining confidence in Israel’s ability to defend itself. As the world has seen in recent conflicts, the digital front is often as consequential as the battlefield itself.
Against this backdrop, the psychological dimension of the conflict cannot be ignored. The repeated warnings from Sana’a—promising “tough revenge” and “real surprises”—have had a palpable effect in Israel. According to Israeli media outlet Yedioth Ahronoth, cabinet sessions are now being held in secret, heavily fortified underground shelters, a precaution against the very real threat of missile and drone attacks. Walla News, another Israeli publication, has reported that the Israeli Air Force is on high alert, bolstering its defenses in anticipation of further Yemeni attacks. These defensive measures are, in the words of AhlulBayt News Agency, “an implicit admission to Yemen’s capabilities, showing that the enemy is extremely afraid of the power, precision, and range of Ansarullah’s military capabilities.”
Israel’s response to these threats has been as dramatic as the attacks themselves. In a move that has drawn both attention and criticism, Israeli officials threatened Yemen’s Houthis with “all ten plagues” of Egypt—a reference to the biblical disasters that befell ancient Egypt. This rhetorical escalation, reported by News18, underscores the intensity of the confrontation and the high stakes involved for both sides. While some in Israel see this as a necessary show of strength, others worry that such language could further inflame an already volatile situation.
The roots of this latest round of violence stretch back to the eruption of the Gaza war in October 2023. Since then, the Houthis have launched numerous drone and missile attacks against Israel, repeatedly citing their support for the Palestinian cause. For Yemen’s Ansarullah movement, the struggle against Israel is part of a broader “Axis of Resistance,” a loose alliance of groups opposed to Israeli and Western influence in the region. As AhlulBayt News Agency puts it, “History shows that the Axis of Resistance has always acted on its promises.”
Yet, for all the talk of resistance and retaliation, the human cost of this conflict remains high. The assassination of Prime Minister al-Rahawi and his ministers was a devastating blow to Yemen’s National Salvation Government, already battered by years of war and economic hardship. The Israeli airstrikes that killed them have only deepened the sense of grievance and resolve among Yemeni leaders. Their warnings—that they possess capabilities even their allies are unaware of, and that they have “many surprises in store for the Zionist enemy”—reflect not just bravado, but a grim determination to alter the balance of power in the region.
Meanwhile, ordinary Israelis are living with the anxiety of potential attacks from a direction once thought too distant to pose a serious threat. The fact that Israel’s leaders now conduct business in underground shelters is a stark reminder that the era of Israeli invulnerability may be over. As AhlulBayt News Agency observes, “Tel Aviv can no longer protect its security even at home, to an extent that now it is on a defensive mode as its enemies have managed to bring the shadow of war on the occupied territories.”
As the region braces for what comes next, one thing is clear: the conflict between Israel and Yemen has entered a new and unpredictable phase. With advanced weaponry, cyber capabilities, and a willingness to escalate, both sides are preparing for a confrontation that could have far-reaching consequences—not just for themselves, but for the entire Middle East.
