Sanaa (TDI): A massive funeral was held at Yemen’s largest mosque in Sanaa, on Monday, where thousands gathered to mourn twelve senior Houthi figures, including their prime minister, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck the leadership during a public gathering.
The slain officials were attending a televised speech by Houthi leader Abdul Malik al‑Houthi when Israeli jets struck, resulting in the deaths of most of the cabinet members.
At the funeral, mourners chanted the slogans, “God is Great, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam.” as Mohammed Ahmed Miftah, the new acting head of the Houthi government, made a speech vowing revenge for these deaths.
He blamed the United States, Israel, their Arab allies, and internal spies for orchestrating the strike, and pledged to launch retaliatory actions.
Read More: Israel Airstrikes on Yemen’s Sanaa Kill 6, Injure 86
The Houthis have already begun retaliating. On Monday, they launched a missile targeting the Israeli-linked, Liberia-flagged oil tanker Scarlet Ray near the Red Sea port of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.
Houthi forces also conducted a raid on the UN offices in Sanaa over the weekend, detaining at least 11 UN personnel from agencies including WFP, WHO, and UNICEF. The United Nations strongly condemned the detention and called for their immediate release.
Israel and Yemen’s Houthis have engaged in direct attacks and confrontations as the the latter maintains Israel’s assault on Gaza is unjust and must be punished. Unlike other countries who have denounced Israel’s actions in Gaza, Houthis have openly attacked Israeli and American ships in the Red Sea, multiple times.
Israel, which defends its assault on Gaza through more aggression elsewhere, targeted Houthis’ leadership in the most recent strike – one that can be called a strategically damaging attack for the Houthis.
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