However, officials from Netanyahu’s Likud party quickly downplayed the remarks, describing them as Saada’s personal assessment rather than information based on official briefings.
Yedioth Ahronoth quoted Israeli officials as saying Saada had not participated in any recent security consultations and that his comments were based on media reports. Netanyahu’s office also expressed dissatisfaction with the remarks, according to the newspaper.
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Trump’s warning over Houthi attacks
Despite the rhetoric, Israeli officials indicated that major developments would largely depend on decisions in Washington.
“The key to developments in the coming days remains in the hands of US President Donald Trump,” an unnamed Israeli official told Yedioth Ahronoth.
The official said the US administration was continuing to pressure Iran by maintaining the threat of military escalation while simultaneously attempting to push Tehran back to negotiations.
The official added that Israel was not expected to initiate an attack unless it came under direct Iranian strikes, although Washington could later request Israeli support or participation.
Regional tensions have escalated over the past two weeks after Trump announced on July 8 that the ceasefire outlined in the June 18 US-Iran memorandum of understanding was no longer in effect.
Since then, the US and Iran have exchanged attacks, with Washington targeting sites inside Iran while Tehran says it has attacked US military facilities and equipment across several countries in the region.
The confrontation has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, threatened global energy supplies and prompted intermittent airspace closures and growing warnings of attacks on US facilities and interests beyond the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump has, meanwhile, warned that he will hold Tehran responsible if Yemen’s Houthis launch further attacks in Red Sea.
His remarks came after the Houthi group said they carried out an attack targeting two Saudi oil tankers with ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as drones.
