Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Thursday issued a stern warning to Yemen’s Houthi movement, pledging a forceful response if attacks against Israel persist. He stated that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) stand ready to take decisive action to protect the country from any threat.

“The Houthis will suffer heavy blows from Israel if they continue to fire at us,” Katz posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Israel must be able to defend itself independently against any threat and any enemy.”

The warning comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend airstrikes on the Iran-backed Houthis, following reports that the group had agreed to stop targeting American vessels. However, Houthi leaders clarified on Wednesday that their truce with the U.S. does not apply to Israel and confirmed the launch of drones aimed at Israeli targets.

Katz also leveled sharp criticism at Iran, accusing it of bankrolling and arming the Houthis as part of a broader regional strategy. “The proxy system is over,” he declared. “The axis of evil has collapsed.”

He suggested that Israel’s military campaign against Iranian-aligned forces could extend directly to Tehran if hostilities escalate. Katz referenced previous Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, Assad-aligned positions in Syria, and Houthi targets in Yemen as evidence of Israel’s readiness to act.

The remarks underscore the deepening complexity of Middle East dynamics, as Israel confronts a growing web of Iranian-backed proxies while Western powers attempt to contain further regional escalation.