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Houthi militants target Israel with missile barrage
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced they fired multiple missiles at Israeli military installations on Saturday, marking their first direct attack on Israel since the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran erupted last month.
The group claimed the strikes hit "sensitive Israeli military sites" and pledged to sustain such operations. Israel's military confirmed intercepting two missiles originating from Yemen, though no damage or casualties were reported.
Proxy war dynamics intensify
The Houthi intervention deepens concerns over regional instability, as the group aligns with Iran's "axis of resistance," which includes Lebanon's Hezbollah and Gaza's Hamas. Their involvement was anticipated following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28.
In a pre-attack statement, a Houthi military spokesperson warned of "direct military intervention" if any nation supported the U.S.-Israel strikes or if the Red Sea was used for operations against Iran. Hours later, the group confirmed launching "a salvo of ballistic missiles," vowing further attacks until "aggression against all resistance fronts ceases."
Red Sea shipping at risk
The Houthis' control of Yemen's Red Sea coastline grants them leverage over a critical global trade route. Their past attacks on commercial vessels-nearly 200 between November 2023 and early 2025-disrupted 15% of global seaborne trade, forcing ships to reroute around Africa. The group damaged over 30 vessels and hijacked at least one during this period.
U.S. and U.K. forces retaliated with airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in January 2024 and March 2025, but the attacks persisted. The current conflict exacerbates threats to shipping, particularly as Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz-handling 20% of the world's oil and LNG-has already spiked energy prices.
Economic fallout looms
Analysts warn that prolonged disruptions in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz could trigger severe economic contractions. Saudi Arabia has rerouted oil shipments through a pipeline to its Red Sea coast, but the Bab al-Mandab Strait-now the primary channel for Asian-bound shipments-remains vulnerable to Houthi attacks.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated Iran is "desperate" for a deal to end the conflict, a claim Tehran denies. Meanwhile, Israel's successful interception of Houthi missiles in the past offers some reassurance, though the group's long-range capabilities and maritime threats persist.
Civil war backdrop
Yemen's 12-year civil war began when Houthis seized the northwest from the internationally recognized government. A Saudi-led coalition, backed by the U.S., intervened to restore the government but failed to dislodge the rebels. The conflict has devastated the country, leaving it a battleground for regional proxy wars.
