Yemen’s Houthis Launch First Missiles Against Israel Conflict Escalates

[Mudhab]

Yemen's Houthi rebels have fired ballistic missiles at Israel, marking their first direct attack since the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran began. Brigadier-General Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, announced the strikes on Al Masirah TV on Saturday, stating that attacks would continue until their objectives are met and until aggression against all resistance fronts stops. The Israeli military intercepted one missile, and no casualties or damage were reported.

The missile strikes targeted "sensitive Israeli military sites" in southern Israel, triggering air raid sirens in Beersheba and near Israel's main nuclear research center. These attacks come as Iran and Hezbollah continue firing on Israel, signaling a widening of the regional conflict. The Houthis had previously stayed out of the U.S.-Israeli war but had disrupted commercial shipping in the Red Sea during the Israel-Hamas conflict.

From November 2023 to January 2025, the Houthis attacked over 100 merchant vessels using missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors. In 2024, the Trump administration responded with strikes against the Houthis, which ended weeks later. Mohammed Mansour, the Houthis' deputy information minister, said they are conducting the battle in stages, and closing the Bab al-Mandeb strait is among their options.

Experts warn that a blockade of Israel-linked ships in the Bab al-Mandeb strait could seriously affect Israel's imports, as nearly 30 percent pass through the waterway. Such moves would also complicate U.S. naval operations, including the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, which recently docked in Crete for repairs. Past U.S. carriers faced heavy Houthi attacks in the Red Sea during military campaigns in 2024 and 2025.

Mohamad Elmasry, a media studies professor in Doha, said the Houthis entering the U.S.-Israeli war is "very significant." If the Houthis shut down both the Bab al-Mandeb and the Suez Canal, along with the Strait of Hormuz, global shipping and trade could be heavily disrupted. Ibrahim Jalal, a researcher on Yemen and the Gulf, added that the threat to shipping is especially alarming when combined with multi-strait blockades coordinated by Iran.

Al Jazeera reporters highlight that this new front complicates Israel's military strategy against Iran and Hezbollah. Israel is expected to retaliate, similar to previous responses when Yemen joined conflicts during the Gaza war. Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that nine soldiers were wounded in rocket attacks from southern Lebanon, further showing the growing intensity of regional hostilities.




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