Israel’s defence minister vowed to unleash “all 10 plagues” of biblical retribution on Yemen’s Huthis amid a surge in missile attacks and retaliatory strikes.
Israel’s defence minister vowed on September 4, 2025, to unleash “the biblical 10 plagues of Egypt” on Yemen’s Huthi rebels amid escalating missile fire toward Israeli territory.
“The Huthis are firing missiles at Israel again. A plague of darkness, a plague of the firstborn — we will complete all 10 plagues,” Israel Katz declared on X, invoking the Old Testament’s account of ten divine disasters that compelled Egypt’s Pharaoh to free the Israelites.
Earlier that day, the Israeli army reported intercepting two Huthi missiles, and warned that another missile fired from Yemen struck just outside its borders. Huthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility, stating they had targeted Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.
The Iran-backed rebels, who have ramped up drone and missile attacks since the Gaza war began in October 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians, intensified their campaign following the death of their prime minister and 11 senior officials in recent Israeli air strikes. In response, Israel has struck back at Yemeni infrastructure, including ports, power stations, and Sanaa’s international airport.