Houthi Leader Admits Iranian Support and Threatens Israel

4th January 2025

2 minutes read

Houthi Leader Admits Iranian Support and Threatens Israel

A clear admission from Yemen’s Houthi rebel leader, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, acknowledging Iran’s role in his militia’s attacks on Israel.

In a newly released video, al-Houthi admitted for the first time to receiving support from Iran, describing it as part of “Iran’s backing for resistance fronts” and praised Tehran’s “honorable role” in establishing movements in Gaza and Palestine.

Seeking to rally public sympathy and ease pressure on Iran, al-Houthi stated, “What Iran faces is the price of its significant contributions to Palestine and Gaza, and its support for resistance fronts,” referring to Iran’s regional proxies, including militias in Yemen and factions in Iraq.

This acknowledgment coincided with the anniversary of Qassem Soleimani’s death, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, who was killed in a U.S. strike in Iraq on January 3, 2020. Al-Houthi praised Soleimani’s role in establishing Iran’s affiliates in the region.

Regarding cross-border attacks, al-Houthi claimed, “This week’s operations were numerous, including strikes on Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport, Nevatim Airbase, and a power plant south of Jerusalem.”

The leader, listed as a global terrorist, noted that these “nighttime” attacks involved “22 hypersonic ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones,” forcing “millions of Israelis” into shelters.

On maritime disruptions in the Red Sea, al-Houthi claimed to have targeted a civilian ship in the Arabian Sea for “violating the blockade on Israel.” He also mentioned a second strike on the U.S. aircraft carrier Truman with “11 cruise missiles and a drone.”

In the air, al-Houthi boasted of allegedly downing “two MQ-9 drones” in Al-Bayda and Marib provinces, claiming these drones are expensive and that his group is engaged in a “war of attrition” against the West and Israel.

Asserting that his militia’s attacks are “steady and escalating” with “intense missile and aerial offensives capable of achieving objectives,” al-Houthi regarded Israeli and Western characterizations of his group as a “highly complex enemy” as a “positive and encouraging” message.

He vowed to continue attacks against Israel, stating that “any strikes will not serve as deterrents or pressures to stop us.”

Downplaying the impact of Israeli strikes on Houthi sites and civilian infrastructure, al-Houthi said the “Israeli aggression last Thursday involved 22 airstrikes targeting several civilian facilities, resulting in 7 deaths and 37 injuries.”

He also mentioned that the U.S. and the U.K. had conducted 931 airstrikes and naval bombardments on Houthi military positions, causing 106 deaths and injuring 314 others.

This speech followed Israeli statements asserting that the fate of the Houthis in Yemen would be no different from that of Hezbollah, Hamas, and Bashar al-Assad’s regime.