Sinwar and the Houthis: An Alliance in a “Battle of Attrition and Existence”
A message from the Hamas movement, sent by its leader Yahya Sinwar, this time targeted a key ally of Iran, the Houthis.
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The Houthis and the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood visit Hamas Office in Sanaa… What are their real objectives?
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Hamas and Houthis… Contradictory ties and blood-stained honors
This message, following a similar one to Lebanon’s Hezbollah, has been interpreted by observers as an attempt to prove their presence and to seek support from Iran’s allies. The goal is to ease the pressure on Hamas, support the continuation of the war, and express gratitude to these groups.
Attrition and “Existence”
In an effort to prove their existence and capability, Sinwar affirmed that Hamas is ready for a “long attrition battle” with Israel in the Gaza Strip, backed by its regional allies supported by Iran. He made this statement as the war entered its twelfth month, according to him.
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Sinwar, who has not appeared publicly since the war began, praised in his message “the Houthi leader in Yemen, Abdel Malek al-Houthi,” for launching a missile that landed two days ago in central Israel.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened a “radical change” at the border with Lebanon, where daily shelling exchanges continue with Hezbollah, Iran’s ally, similar to the Houthis in Yemen.
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Message Goals
Political analyst Mohamed Shahada from Gaza explained that these messages are directed at Iran’s allies. Sinwar “is trying to prove that he is alive, in charge with strength, and fully aware of what is happening outside Gaza.” He also wants to show that he can operate on multiple fronts: the internal battlefield in Gaza and the diplomatic front.
The other goal, according to Shahada, is to prove to Hamas skeptics, and even mediators, that he is still capable of leading, even while operating from Gaza’s tunnels.
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Israeli Threats to the Houthis
Israel has threatened Houthi militias with “a heavy price” following the recent missile, while recalling previous strikes on the port of Hudaydah. Khaled Salman, former editor of the Yemeni newspaper “Al-Thawri,” said that the second Houthi missile reaching Tel Aviv puts the Houthis‘ arsenal and sources of funding under Israel’s scrutiny.
He noted that the missile makes the Houthis a major threat for Israel, warranting deeper, more painful strikes against their infrastructure and leadership.
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Israel and the Gaza War
Israel has vowed to “eliminate” Sinwar, whom it accuses of being one of the main planners of the October 7 attack. Since the war began, tensions have escalated between Israel, its allies, and Iran along with its regional allies, primarily Hezbollah and the Houthis. The Houthis have repeatedly claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on Israel, and have also targeted ships in the Red Sea, which they consider linked to Israel.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, opened a “new front” by targeting military sites in northern Israel since October 8, and Israel has responded by striking Hezbollah’s infrastructure.
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Casualties of the War
Since the fighting began, 624 people have been killed in Lebanon, while 50 people have died on the Israeli side, including civilians in the Golan Heights. The war has displaced tens of thousands of people on both sides.
The war erupted in Gaza following an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed 1,205 people, mostly civilians. Additionally, 251 people were kidnapped by Hamas, with 97 still held captive.
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Israel responded with bombings and a ground offensive on Gaza, killing over 41,226 people, the majority of whom were women and children.
The situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with over 20 people killed in recent Israeli strikes in the last few hours.
