Iran denies role in Houthi raid on Israel after Netanyahu vows retaliation

Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday dismissed accusations linking Tehran to a recent Houthi missile attack against Israel, saying such "baseless" allegations are a pretext to justify what it called further destabilization of West Asia.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry praised the Yemeni rebels' attack on Israel's Ben Gurion Airport as “a courageous act of self-defense", adding that attributing the attack to Iran was a “disrespectful attempt to undermine the Houthis' independence."

Despite Iran's denial, Israel's prime minister said on Sunday that "attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran.

"Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters," the Israeli prime minister added.

"The Houthi attacks are Iranian attacks — Iran uses them as a proxy to spread terror and undermine the regional and global order," the Israeli foreign ministry said.

"The Houthis are the arm — the head is Iranian. The world must hold Iran accountable for these attacks." It added that "Israel has the right to defend itself, and it will exercise this right at a time of its choosing."

Last week, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran had continued to support Yemen's armed Houthi movement despite an explicit warning from Washington and vowed unspecified consequences for Tehran.

Pete Hegseth wrote on X: "Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing. You know very well what the US Military is capable of — and you were warned."

"You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing."