Hamas Chief Vows Gaza Militants Ready for ‘Long War of Attrition’

Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar stated on Monday that the group is ready for an extended conflict with Israel, in a message directed at Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, nearly a year into the Gaza war. He emphasized that Hamas has prepared for a prolonged struggle, which he believes will erode Israel’s political resolve. Sinwar also expressed confidence that Hamas, alongside Iran-aligned groups in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen, would ultimately prevail against Israel.

This statement followed a missile attack on central Israel, claimed by the Houthis on Sunday. While the attack did not cause any casualties, it prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to vow retaliation.

In his message to Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi, Sinwar praised the success of the missile strike, saying the Houthis had penetrated Israel’s defense systems. He added that Hamas’s joint efforts with allies in Lebanon and Iraq would bring about Israel’s defeat.

Since November, the Houthis have been targeting Israel, claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. These attacks, including missile and drone strikes, have disrupted international shipping off Yemen’s coast. The Houthis, part of Iran’s “axis of resistance,” have aligned themselves with groups like Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and several Iraqi Shiite factions.

In July, a Houthi drone strike killed a civilian in Tel Aviv, which led to Israeli retaliatory strikes that caused severe damage at Yemen’s Hodeida port, controlled by the Houthis.