Israel will respond forcefully to Houthi attacks, Katz says

Yemen's Houthis fired a missile at Israel Friday afternoon, which was intercepted by the Israeli military. 

 Israeli minister of Defense Israel Katz attends a discussion on the army conscription law at a Foreign Affairs and Defense committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on January 21, 2025.  (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Israeli minister of Defense Israel Katz attends a discussion on the army conscription law at a Foreign Affairs and Defense committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on January 21, 2025.
(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Israel will respond forcefully in Yemen to the Houthi attacks, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on X/Twitter Friday evening after the IDF intercepted a missile from the terror group.

“The Houthis continue to launch Iranian missiles at Israel. As we promised, we will respond forcefully in Yemen and wherever necessary,” he said.

The attack came days after the US announced that it had reached a ceasefire with the Yemeni terror group, but Houthi officials made clear that the deal did not include any promise to stop firing at Israel or ships linked to it.

Lapid critics Israel's approach to Houthi attacks

Opposition leader and Yesh Atid chair Yair Lapid said earlier on X that Israel cannot continue to sit and wait for a Houthi missile to cause disaster or paralyze the economy.

 A boy looks on as protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally in solidarity with Palestinians, in Sanaa, Yemen May 9, 2025.  (credit: REUTERS/Adel Al Khader)
A boy looks on as protesters, mainly Houthi supporters, rally in solidarity with Palestinians, in Sanaa, Yemen May 9, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Adel Al Khader)

“Israel cannot continue to sit and wait for a Houthi missile to cause a mass-casualty disaster or keep paralyzing the economy,” Lapid said.

He also urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “stop with the cowardice and procrastination and expand strikes inside Yemen – especially on infrastructure, launch sites, and production facilities.”