Houthi rebels say they are ready for all-out war if Israel breaks the fragile Gaza ceasefire agreement. Troops are on high-alert for a tense weekend hostage deadline
Iran-backed rebel forces in Yemen have warned their fingers are “on the trigger” ready to attack Israel if the Gaza ceasefire is shattered.
It follows dire warnings Israel will resume all-out war if all of its remaining hostages are not freed by Hamas by midday on Saturday . Houthis chief Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said the group would begin its campaign of terror in the Red Sea and attack Israel. He warned:. “Our fingers are on the trigger, and we are ready to immediately escalate against the Israeli enemy if it returns to escalation in the Gaza Strip.”
And he branded US President Donald Trump a “fool” for issuing a similar ultimatum to Hamas, which was followed up by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamas has stunned the world by announcing it would halt the exchange of hostages, a accusing Israel of keeping aid from reaching northern Gaza. They say this violated the terms of their cease-fire agreement.
The Houthis have maintained support for Hamas, who are also backed by the Iranian Government. Since November 2023, they have attacked Israeli and western ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, causing widespread chaos in the key shipping route. Israeli troops are on high-alert over the cease-fire concerns, with forces being bolstered in the Southern Command.
In a statement, the IDF said: “The reinforcements of troops and mobilization of reservists are being carried out in preparation for various scenarios.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel is ready to resume fighting if Hamas fails to release more hostages by 12pm on Saturday. Since they began releasing hostages, Hamas has let 21 captives go free.
According to the deal, they need to release 12 more hostages in the next three weeks. Israeli officials say there are 76 hostages remaining in Hamas captivity. They presume 30 of those are dead. The Israeli military has struck two people in the southern Gaza Strip who were flying a drone, killing one and injuring the other.
Officials said the drone was observed entering Gaza from Israel after past attempts to use such aircraft to smuggle in weapons. Gaza’s health ministry said a 44-year-old man was killed in an Israeli strike near the southern city of Rafah on Wednesday.
Munir al-Bursh, director general of the ministry, said at least 92 Palestinians have been killed and more than 800 wounded by Israeli fire since the fragile ceasefire took hold last month. The Israeli military says it has fired upon people who approach its forces or enter certain areas in violation of the truce.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the support of US counterpart Donald Trump, has warned that Israel would resume fighting if hostages are not freed on Saturday. Mr Trump has threatened that “all hell” will break out if the militant group does not release the remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza by Saturday.
