Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has taken a particularly hardline stance in the wake of the Yemen strikes, vowing to destroy Houthi assets and making the unconfirmed claim that the IDF had “destroyed the Houthi presidential palace.” His rhetoric has been among the most aggressive from the Israeli leadership.
While Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke of a “heavy price,” Katz’s language was more direct and absolute. He promised that for every Houthi missile, the rebels would “pay many times over,” outlining a policy of extreme and disproportionate retribution.
Katz also detailed the broader strategy, confirming that Israel would continue hitting “infrastructure targets that are used to promote Houthi terrorism” while maintaining an air and naval blockade. His statements paint a picture of a comprehensive and unrelenting campaign to dismantle the Houthi threat.
This hardline position from the Defence Minister suggests a strong consensus within the Israeli security cabinet for a more aggressive, offensive posture against the Yemeni rebels, moving beyond mere defense and into the realm of systemic degradation of the enemy.