DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting southern Israel, marking their first direct strike since the outbreak of the United States-Israeli war on Iran.
Brigadier-General Yahya Saree announced the operation on Saturday via the group’s Al Masirah television channel, stating that the missiles were aimed at what he described as “sensitive Israeli military sites.” He added that attacks would continue until the group’s objectives are achieved and hostilities against allied fronts cease.
The Israeli military confirmed that it intercepted at least one missile. Air raid sirens were activated in areas around Beersheba and near Israel’s main nuclear research facility for the third time overnight from Friday into Saturday. Authorities reported no casualties or damage.
The strike followed earlier signals from the Houthis that they were preparing to enter the widening regional conflict. The Iran-aligned group, which has controlled the Yemeni capital Sanaa since 2014, had previously refrained from direct involvement in the current war.
The Houthis have, however, carried out extensive attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea during the Israel-Hamas war, disrupting a key global trade route. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the group targeted more than 100 merchant vessels using missiles and drones, sinking two ships and killing four sailors.
Deputy Information Minister Mohammed Mansour said the group could escalate further, including potentially closing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime passage linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Analysts warn that such a move could significantly affect global trade. Reporting from Sanaa, Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry said approximately 30 percent of Israel’s imports pass through the Red Sea corridor, making the waterway strategically vital.
The situation could also complicate United States naval operations in the region, particularly the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford, which recently docked in Crete for repairs. A return to the Red Sea could expose it to intensified attacks similar to those faced by other U.S. carriers in recent years.
Mohamad Elmasry described the Houthis’ entry into the conflict as highly significant, citing their demonstrated capability to disrupt major shipping routes. He warned that simultaneous closures of key chokepoints such as the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz would have far-reaching consequences for international trade.
Similarly, Ibrahim Jalal said the threat to maritime security is increasingly alarming, particularly if coordinated blockades emerge across multiple strategic waterways.
On the ground, the escalation is expected to add pressure on Israel’s ongoing military operations. Al Jazeera correspondent Nida Ibrahim reported that opening an additional front alongside conflicts involving Iran and Hezbollah could raise further domestic concerns over the conduct of the war.
In a separate development, Israeli Army Radio reported that nine Israeli soldiers were wounded in two rocket attacks launched from southern Lebanon.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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