Iran-backed Houthis join war with attack against Israel
Houthis Launch Missiles at Israel in Escalation of Regional Conflict
The Iran-supported Houthi rebels in Yemen announced they had fired a series of missiles at Israeli targets—marking the first such strike since the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran began. The group claimed responsibility, stating it had hit “strategic Israeli military sites” and declared its intent to sustain such assaults. Israeli authorities reported intercepting one missile from Yemen during the attack.
The involvement of the Houthis in this conflict has sparked fears of broader economic repercussions. As a significant Iranian proxy, the group’s capacity to target Red Sea shipping raises concerns about potential disruptions to global trade routes. The Red Sea, which connects the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, is critical for international commerce, and the Houthis’ control of its coastline adds to this risk.
“Our hands are on the trigger for direct military intervention,” said a Houthi military spokesman prior to the strike. This warning came as the group prepared for further action, vowing to continue attacks “until the aggression against all resistance fronts ceases.” The statement appears to reference Israel’s intensified operations against Hezbollah, a key Iranian-backed group in Lebanon.
The Houthis’ recent attacks on Israeli targets are part of a larger alliance they view as the “axis of resistance,” which also includes Hezbollah and Hamas. Yemen’s civil war, which has ravaged the nation for 12 years, began when the Houthis captured the northwest, forcing a Saudi-led coalition—backed by the U.S.—to intervene to reclaim government control.
Although Israel has previously intercepted Houthi missiles, the group’s history of targeting shipping in the Bab al-Mandab Strait has already disrupted trade. From November 2023 to early 2025, Houthis launched nearly 200 attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, damaging over 30 ships and seizing at least one. This forced major shipping companies to reroute cargo through southern Africa, bypassing the Red Sea which handles 15% of global seaborne trade.
“Iran is desperate to reach a deal to end the war,” stated U.S. President Donald Trump, who delayed an attack on Iran’s power plants if the country reopened the Strait of Hormuz by 6 April. The strait, a vital pathway for 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, saw its closure drive oil prices to record highs, with fears of prolonged blockades threatening energy markets and global economies.
In response to the Houthi attacks, the U.S. and UK conducted air strikes on Yemeni targets in January 2024 and March 2025. These strikes followed the Houthis’ disruption of shipping, which has led Saudi Arabia to divert oil via pipeline to its Red Sea coast. As a result, vessels heading to Asian markets now pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, making it a critical route for energy supplies.