TEL AVIV, Israel — Tensions between Israel and Iran continue to escalate as a newly unveiled billboard in Tehran’s central Palestine Square threatened persistent missile attacks on Israel originating from Yemen. The sign, which appeared earlier this week and has since circulated widely in Iranian media, is the latest manifestation of open Iranian support for regional proxies targeting Israeli civilians and infrastructure, reflecting a growing campaign of psychological and kinetic warfare orchestrated by Iran against Israel.
The billboard’s message, written in Persian, declares: “The firing from Yemen will not stop.” The imagery includes what appears to be a warning beacon and people in flight, with a graphic resembling the ancient sword Zulfiqar—the namesake of some Iranian-produced missiles regularly supplied to terror groups. Security analysts interpret these visuals as an unmistakable reference to the arsenal of long-range weapons developed by Iran and dispersed among its regional proxies, particularly the Houthis in Yemen.
Iran’s Regional Proxy Network
Since the October 7, 2023, massacre by Hamas terrorists—an Iranian-backed atrocity labelled the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust—the conflict has rapidly widened. Iranian strategy has mobilized an alliance of proxies: Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, and Shiite militias in Syria and Iraq, known collectively as the ‘axis of resistance.’ These groups, all supported by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have launched coordinated attacks on Israel, ranging from rocket and missile barrages to drone strikes and cyber warfare.
The Houthi movement, officially dubbed Ansar Allah and based in Yemen, represents a cornerstone of Iran’s plan to encircle Israel. Since October 2023, Houthi fighters have carried out repeated missile and drone launches at Israel, with most projectiles intercepted by Israel’s sophisticated multi-layered air defense networks, including the Iron Dome and Arrow systems. Still, the psychological toll on Israeli communities and the constant need for civilians to remain alert have become defining features of the ongoing conflict.
The Propaganda Campaign in Tehran
The placement of the billboard in Palestine Square—a symbolic heart of anti-Israel sentiment in the Iranian capital—is both a domestic tool and an international signal. Iran’s leadership regularly invokes the Palestinian cause as a central tenet of national policy, and the capital’s visual messaging reinforces the regime’s commitment to the elimination of Israel. By publicizing the display, Iranian authorities are not only stoking popular support at home but also challenging Israel’s deterrence posture, daring a response to overt incitement.
State-affiliated media amplified the billboard’s imagery, accompanied by messaging that lauded the Houthis’ missile campaign and predicted further strikes. Israeli military officials and intelligence analysts have spoken of the dual nature of this signaling: it is at once a campaign of intimidation against the Israeli public and a demonstration meant to rally Tehran’s network of regional surrogates.
The Houthi Missile Threat
Over the last quarter, missile launches from Yemen have become more frequent and technically sophisticated. Many of the projectiles—some exceeding a range of 1,000 kilometers—bear Iranian markings and technology, including the ‘Dhu al-Fiqar’ referenced in the billboard’s imagery. This evolving threat has forced Israel to reallocate air defense resources to the southern city of Eilat and along critical infrastructure lines. Despite the high interception rate, military planners warn that any successful strike could result in mass casualties or critical infrastructure damage, further increasing civilian anxiety across Israel.
The Israeli government insists that these attacks are ordered and enabled directly by Tehran. According to Israeli defense officials, the supply chains—from the IRGC to the Houthis—run through clandestine logistics routes, with Iranian engineers and trainers embedded within Yemen to maximize the effectiveness of missile launches.
October 7 and the Expansion of Iranian Aggression
The latest phase of the war was triggered by the October 7, 2023 massacre, in which Hamas terrorists executed systematic atrocities in southern Israel, murdering over 1,200 civilians and abducting more than 250 to Gaza. The incident remains the deadliest act of antisemitic violence since the Holocaust and ignited Israel’s ongoing campaign to dismantle Hamas’s military and governance structures throughout Gaza. The attack also unleashed a coordinated escalation by Iranian proxies on every front: missile barrages from Lebanon, sabotage in Syria, and long-range missile fire from Yemen.
Iran’s regime has celebrated this new, multi-front conflict as evidence of its growing regional influence. Iranian officials publicly commended the Houthis for every attempted strike—successful or intercepted—further solidifying their role in Iran’s regional war doctrine. The Islamic Republic’s open advocacy for violence against Israel, now reinforced by propaganda such as the Tehran billboard, has become one of the defining features of the current conflict.
International Implications and Israel’s Response
The international community, led by the United States and key European partners, has condemned both the incitement promoted by Tehran and the material support to armed groups in open violation of Security Council resolutions. The United States, under the Trump administration, has reinforced military aid to Israel and increased diplomatic pressure on Iran. Defense Minister Israel Katz and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir continue to consult with international partners on strengthening anti-missile networks and developing new technologies to counter the evolving threat environment.
Israel’s government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, insists on the fundamental right to self-defense, emphasizing that its military actions are responses to ongoing aggression and legitimate efforts to ensure the safety and security of its civilian population. Israeli officials have underscored the clear moral distinction between lawful defensive actions and acts of terror by Iranian proxies. There is no ambiguity, they argue, between the democratic state protecting its citizens and groups dedicated to the wholesale destruction of Israel.
The Role of Propaganda in Proxy Warfare
The billboard serves as a potent example of Iranian psychological warfare. Analysts point out that public incitement is deliberately deployed to demoralize Israeli society while bolstering factions within Iran and allied militias abroad. The message is clear: the threat is ongoing, and Iran’s proxies will continue to press attacks as long as Israel resists their objectives.
Yet Israel’s military resilience and technological innovation continue to blunt the worst effects of these campaigns. Active defense systems, paired with intense regional intelligence cooperation, have kept casualties low and deterred more ambitious assaults. Israeli officials maintain that vigilance and international solidarity are vital as Iran seeks to synchronize its propaganda and military fronts.
Conclusion
The appearance of an anti-Israel threat in Tehran’s Palestine Square starkly exposes the hand of the Iranian regime in orchestrating regional proxy warfare. Far from an isolated act of incitement, the billboard encapsulates a deliberate campaign: to undermine Israeli security, rally militant allies, and assert Iran’s role as the principal driver of regional instability. As long as Iran and its proxies remain committed to the destruction of Israel, Israeli authorities stress that robust defense and unyielding deterrence are non-negotiable priorities—a message they continue to press with allies and adversaries alike.
