Yemen's Houthi rebels issue safety warnings to international businesses in Israel, urging prompt departures to avoid potential hazards
In a series of recent events, tensions between Israel and the Houthi rebels have escalated, with both sides engaging in a series of attacks and counter-attacks.
On August 28, the Houthi rebel-controlled Yemeni government confirmed the death of Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi in an Israeli strike in Sana'a. Several ministers also lost their lives in the same attack. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz described the strike as "a crushing blow" against the Houthis, adding that "this is only the beginning."
The Houthi premier was targeted during a "routine workshop" held by the government on August 31. The Houthis have previously targeted the UN and other international organizations, and their latest attack was on the offices of the World Food Programme (WFP) in Sana'a on August 31. A WFP staff member was detained during the raid.
The main oil company in Yemen is controlled by the Houthis, and the oil facility and power plant targeted in the Israeli strike on August 28 were also under their control in Sana'a. Since October 2023, the Houthis have launched near-daily attacks against Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea. They have targeted over 100 merchant ships in the Red Sea since November 2023.
The key Israeli Red Sea port of Eilat has been significantly affected by these attacks. It reduced operations by 90% due to these attacks, pushing it to the brink of bankruptcy. Insurance rates have skyrocketed due to these attacks, and commercial shipping has been forced to take costly detours.
On August 22, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile toward Israel, marking the first cluster bomb attack by the rebels on Israel since 2023. Since March 2025 alone, the Houthis have launched more than 70 missiles and 22 drones at Israel.
Mahdi al-Mashat, the head of the Houthi supreme political council, warned foreign companies to leave Israel "before it's too late." Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi had expressed support for the Palestinian people after an Israeli strike on an oil facility and a power plant in Yemen on August 28.
The Houthis' actions have been met with relentless Israeli retaliation, according to Responsible Statecraft. The situation remains volatile, and both sides seem determined to continue their confrontation.
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