A war of narratives is unfolding alongside the military conflict between Israel and the Houthis, centered on the disputed claim of a “destroyed” presidential palace in Sanaa. Israel’s bold assertion contrasts sharply with the complete silence on the matter from Houthi officials.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz confidently stated that the IDF “destroyed the Houthi presidential palace.” This narrative projects an image of a highly successful, precise, and devastating blow to the heart of the enemy regime.
However, sources in Yemen, including the Houthi-run media, have focused solely on the casualties and the damage to other infrastructure like oil facilities and power stations. Their silence on the palace’s fate could be an attempt to downplay a major symbolic defeat or a simple reflection that the Israeli claim is exaggerated.
This clash of stories creates a fog of war, where the public is left to wonder about the true extent of the damage. It highlights how information control and propaganda are crucial weapons in modern conflict, used to shape perceptions of victory and defeat.