Air Force on high alert for resumption of Houthi missile, drone attacks on Israel

The Israeli Air Force was on heightened alert Sunday for potential missile and drone attacks by the Houthis in Yemen, as the White House said it targeted the group’s leaders in heavy strikes and vowed to continue to do so. The level of alert was already raised by the IAF last week, after the Iran-backed group threatened to resume attacks on Israel.

The Houthis halted their attacks on Israel and global shipping routes when a ceasefire took effect in Gaza in January. But the rebel group announced last week that it would resume them until Israel lifted its blockade of aid to the Strip, which it enacted on March 2 after the end of phase 1 of the ceasefire-hostage release deal.

The US launched a major bombing campaign in Yemen on Saturday. Then, overnight between Saturday and Sunday, a missile was launchedfrom Yemen, which landed in Egypt. The IDF said it is investigating if the missile was aimed at Israel.The White House said Sunday that US strikes killed “multiple” Houthi leaders in Yemen, adding that Iran was “put on notice” to stop backing the rebel group and its attacks on Red Sea shipping.  (Read more)