Yemen’s Houthi rebels have entered the month-long conflict in the Middle East, launching missile attacks on Israel following strikes in Iran and other locations.
Houthi Involvement Escalates Conflict
The war in the Middle East, ongoing for a month, now includes operations by the USA and Israel in Iran. In response, Iran, alongside Hezbollah, has been shelling Israel.
On the night of Friday to Saturday, sirens sounded in areas around Beer Sheva and Israel’s main nuclear research center, according to Al Jazeera, though no casualties or damage were reported.
Missile Attacks from Yemen
Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced on Saturday, March 28th, the launch of a series of missiles targeting “sensitive military sites” in southern Israel. This marks the Houthi’s first direct engagement in the conflict, which began on February 28th.
The rebels stated the attack was retaliation for strikes on infrastructure in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestinian territories, and vowed continued action until aggression ends on all fronts.
Attack Origin and Israeli Response
The attack was launched from Sanaa, the Yemeni capital controlled by the Houthis since 2014. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported detecting a missile launch from Yemen and confirmed its interception by air defense systems on Saturday.
Threat to Red Sea Shipping
The Houthi’s entry into the war raises concerns about renewed attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea corridor, according to The Guardian. From November 2023 to January 2025, the Houthis conducted drone and missile attacks on over 100 commercial ships, sinking two and resulting in four sailor deaths.
Potential Closure of Bab al-Mandab Strait
Houthi Deputy Minister of Information Mohammed Mansour indicated on Saturday that closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait is an option, a move Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry believes would harm Israel’s economy, as approximately 30 percent of its imports pass through the strait.
Mohamad Elmasry, a professor of media studies at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, warned that closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Red Sea, or the Suez Canal would create significant bottlenecks for international trade.