Yemen’s Iran‑aligned Houthis said on Saturday they had fired ballistic missiles at Israeli military sites, formally joining the war that erupted on Feb. 28 when US and Israeli forces attacked Iran and killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Houthis’ entry into the conflict has raised fears that the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, a vital global trade artery at the southern end of the Red Sea, could become the next flashpoint.
Earlier, Houthi spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree had declared on Al‑Masirah TV that “our fingers are on the trigger for direct military intervention” if the Red Sea is used for hostile operations against Iran or if escalation against the “axis of resistance” continues.
Israel’s military confirmed it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, reporting no casualties or damage.
The Houthis said the strike was aimed at “sensitive Israeli military sites” near Beer Sheba and vowed attacks would continue until “aggression against all fronts of the resistance ceases.”
It may be recalled that the group had warned it would not allow the Red Sea to be used against Iran or its allies, though its Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center told shipping insurers as recently as March 27 that navigation remained safe, with “dozens of vessels, including oil tankers, transit… every day” and “no cause for concern.”
With the Strait of Hormuz already effectively shut, analysts say Bab el‑Mandeb is the most obvious next target for the Houthis to hurt US and Israeli interests economically. Any strike on a tanker could trigger a rapid exodus of commercial traffic from the Red Sea, insurers and shipping executives said.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Houthis, part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” alongside groups in Lebanon and Iraq, had stayed largely on the sidelines for weeks but repeatedly signaled readiness to act. Their missile strike on Israel underscores the fluid and high‑risk situation, though disruption of Red Sea traffic has not yet materialized. Western navies including the US and UK are on heightened alert, issuing new advisories to shipping companies.
Markets and insurers are expected to watch developments closely over the next 48–72 hours.
