SANAA, Yemen (Dispatches) — In a powerful demonstration of resilience and defiance, Yemen’s Armed Forces (YAF) escalated their military campaign against Israeli targets following the assassination of Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi and 12 senior government ministers in an Israeli airstrike last week. 
Yemen’s naval forces on Monday launched a ballistic missile strike on the Israeli oil tanker SCARLET RAY in the northern Red Sea. The operation, confirmed by YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree, was a precise and successful attack intended to disrupt Israeli maritime activity and send a clear message of Yemen’s unyielding stance. 
“The operation resulted in a direct hit on the ship, thanks to Allah,” the YAF declared, emphasizing their commitment to halting Israeli navigation bound for occupied Palestinian ports.
The military action coincided with the funeral of Prime Minister al-Rahawi and his fellow ministers in Sanaa’s Al-Sabeen Square, where tens of thousands gathered to mourn and vow continued resistance. 
The slain ministers represented a cross-section of Yemen’s governance, including portfolios such as justice, foreign affairs, economy, and information — a brutal blow aimed at Yemen’s political stability.
Yet, amid grief, Yemen’s leaders and citizens united in a powerful expression of defiance. 
Acting Prime Minister Muhammad Miftah declared, “We will never regret supporting Gaza,” underscoring the inseparable bond between Yemen’s struggle and the Palestinian cause. 
Miftah vowed that the assassination would not destabilize Yemen but would instead inspire stronger internal security measures and renewed efforts against Israeli aggression.
The assassination of Yemen’s top officials was a severe escalation