Israel announced on Wednesday that it had intercepted a drone approaching from the east, amid ongoing threats from Houthi officials in Yemen to continue their attacks on the country. This development followed President Trump's declaration that the United States would cease bombing the Iran-backed group.
The Israeli military confirmed that the drone was shot down by the air force, with sirens sounding as it neared. The origin of the drone remains unclear. Houthi leaders reiterated their commitment to retaliate against Israel, citing both past attacks in Yemen and the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Mohamed Abdelsalam, a spokesman for the Houthis, stated, “We cannot accept Yemen being targeted and violated without a response,” emphasizing their intent to respond to Israeli actions using all available means.
This week, Israeli fighter jets conducted airstrikes on various sites in Yemen, resulting in at least seven fatalities and significant damage to the country’s main international airport. Khaled Al-Shaif, the airport director in Sana, reported that the attacks caused approximately $500 million in damages, destroyed three aircraft, and led to the indefinite suspension of flights.
Israel claimed that the airport strikes were a response to a Houthi ballistic missile attack near Ben-Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv on Sunday, which injured at least six individuals and prompted multiple airlines to temporarily halt operations.
For over a year, the Houthis, who control much of northwestern Yemen, have launched rockets and drones at Israel and vessels in the Red Sea as part of a solidarity campaign with Palestinians in Gaza.
The United States has provided military support to Israel, including missile strikes against Yemen and the deployment of aircraft carriers to safeguard shipping routes. These efforts intensified under the Biden administration and escalated significantly in mid-March when President Trump vowed to “annihilate” the Houthis. The campaign has reportedly incurred costs exceeding $1 billion over the past seven weeks.
However, on Tuesday, President Trump unexpectedly announced a negotiated truce between the United States and the Houthis, facilitated by Oman, surprising both Israeli officials and the Pentagon.
Trump remarked, “They just don’t want to fight,” indicating that the U.S. would honor the truce and cease bombings, as the Houthis had allegedly agreed not to target ships anymore.
In response, Abdelsalam stated that the Houthis would persist in their attacks on Israeli vessels until Israel lifts its blockade on Gaza, which has hindered humanitarian aid to the region's two million residents. He also noted that the preliminary truce with the United States would not alter Houthi support for Gaza, adding, “We will evaluate any future U.S. support for Israel and determine our stance accordingly.”