Tehran could use the Houthis to take action in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
A ballistic missile was launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory on Saturday morning, marking the first such attack by the Iran-backed Houthis since Operation Roaring Lion began a month ago, the IDF has confirmed, with the group vowing to continue its offensive until its "objectives are met." Air defense systems were activated to intercept the threat, the military said, as sirens sounded across Beersheba and surrounding communities in the Negev. Residents were instructed to follow Home Front Command guidelines amid the unfolding situation. There were no immediate reports of casualties or direct impacts at the time of writing.
The Houthis confirmed the attack several hours later, saying they had targeted Israel in response to continued Israeli strikes across Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and the West Bank, and warned that their operations would continue until their "objectives are met." The Houthis have previously stated that they want an end to the attacks on the “axis of resistance,” which includes Iranian-backed groups in Iraq and Lebanon. The Houthis, an Iran-backed proxy based in Yemen, have previously threatened to target Israel in coordination with other Iranian proxies in the region. However, this marks the first confirmed missile launch toward Israeli territory from Yemen since the war began on February 28.
Arab News reported that “the group has shown an ability to strike targets far beyond Yemen and disrupt shipping lanes around the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea, as they did in support of Hamas in Gaza after October 7, 2023.” The Houthis have previously demonstrated their capacity to halt maritime traffic in the Red Sea, an outcome that would further strain the global economy. With the Strait of Hormuz already largely restricted, additional disruption along the Red Sea corridor, which feeds into the Suez Canal, would compound pressure on global trade. (Read More)
