Israeli forces recently carried out a targeted strike in Yemen, in an apparent assassination attempt against a senior figure in the Iran-backed Houthi movement, according to Israeli media. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not officially confirmed the operation, and both Israeli and Houthi officials have so far refrained from making public statements on the matter.

The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen, have been engaged in a campaign of maritime attacks in the Red Sea since November 2023, claiming solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The group is believed to have launched over 100 assaults on commercial vessels traversing one of the world’s key shipping routes.

RISING TENSIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND IRAN

The reported strike in Yemen comes as Israel and Iran exchanged fresh hostilities late Saturday, escalating fears of a broader regional conflict. The Israeli military expanded its campaign against Iran with a surprise strike targeting the South Pars gas field, the world’s largest, prompting a fierce response from Tehran.

Iran launched missiles and drones toward Israel, according to Iranian state media, while the IDF confirmed it had intercepted multiple incoming projectiles and was continuing operations against military targets in Tehran. Missile strikes lit up the night skies over Jerusalem and Haifa, where a direct hit on a residential building killed a woman in her 20s and injured at least 13 others.

Iran canceled a scheduled round of nuclear talks with the United States in Oman. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said the discussions were impossible amid what he called “barbarous” Israeli attacks.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran had “seen nothing yet” and hinted at further action. Meanwhile, the White House said President Donald Trump had cautioned Iran against further escalation, offering a diplomatic off-ramp in exchange for a significant rollback of its nuclear program.