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
 in Israel’s ongoing campaign of violence. The airstrike struck during a government workshop, catching many officials off guard, and marking one of the deadliest Israeli attacks on Yemen’s leadership in recent years. 
While initial denials circulated, the deaths were officially confirmed days later, igniting national and regional condemnation.
Since Israel’s genocidal war Gaza began in October 2023, Yemen has stood firmly in solidarity with Palestinians, conducting numerous missile and drone attacks on Israeli military sites and infrastructure. 
The Yemeni resistance has made clear that their support goes beyond rhetoric: it is manifested in active, coordinated military efforts designed to pressure Israel and disrupt its operations.
In a significant development reported by multiple Israeli sources, Yemen’s Armed Forces launched an unusually large wave of drones toward Israeli-occupied territories. 
According to Hebrew-language outlets, the latest drone offensive involved flights lasting between six to eight hours, timed to coincide with ballistic missile launches targeting Israeli skies. 
Israeli Channel 12 reported that the Israeli military had detected the drone flights and was preparing to intercept them.
Muhammad al-Bukhaiti, a senior political official with Yemen’s Ansarallah movement, declared, “We have taught Britain and America lessons, and we will do the same to the Zionist enemy.” 
His assertive stance highlighted Yemen’s increasing confidence in its growing drone and missile capabilities, signaling a new phase in the ongoing conflict.
Despite repeated Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s capital throughout 2024, Yemeni forces have shown remarkable resilience. Intelligence sources in Israel acknowledge the difficulties Tel Aviv faces in penetrating Yemen’s defenses and gathering actionable intelligence. 
This has frustrated Israeli military planners, who reportedly are preparing extensive campaigns to suppress Yemen’s capabilities, but have yet to achieve any strategic success.
General Muhammad al-Ghamari, Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces, warned that Israel’s assassination of Yemen’s leadership “has opened the gates of hell upon itself.” His statement echoed widely among Yemeni officials and the public alike, signaling that retaliation will be relentless and severe.
Chairman of Yemen’s Supreme Political Council Mahdi al-Mashat reinforced the message, promising that Yemen’s operations “will continue until the aggression is stopped and the siege is lifted.” 
His vow resonated deeply with a population that has endured years of war, blockade, and economic hardship, yet remains fiercely committed to resistance. 
“Israel will not taste security after today,” Mashat said, addressing the Israeli regime and its supporters.
The massive funeral procession in Sanaa was not only a moment of mourning but a potent symbol of Yemen’s steadfast unity. 
Mourners chanted slogans such as “God is Great, Death to America, Death to Israel,” reflecting widespread popular support for the Palestinian cause and condemnation of Israeli aggression. 
The gathering demonstrated that the Israeli strike, intended to intimidate, instead galvanized the Yemeni people and their leadership.
The Yemeni government and resistance movements view their struggle as part of a broader confrontation against imperialism, colonialism, and occupation. 
Their support for Gaza and campaign against Israeli targets are deeply rooted in a shared history of oppression and a commitment to justice and liberation.