New Front In West Asia War As Yemen’s Houthis Launch Missile At Israel

Last Updated:March 28, 2026, 17:05 IST

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have claimed their first strike on Israel since the start of the West Asia war, raising fears of a dangerous new front in the regional conflict.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed responsibility for their first direct strike on Israel since the start of the wider Middle East war a month ago, signalling the possible opening of a new front in the escalating regional conflict.

The claim came shortly after the Israeli military said it had detected a missile launched from Yemen and activated its air defence systems to intercept the threat.

In a statement, the Israeli military said it had “identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory" and that aerial defence systems were operating to neutralise it.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage in Israel, and early media reports suggested the missile may have been intercepted.

A few hours later, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree released a video statement claiming that the group had launched ballistic missiles at Israeli military targets.

The attack marks the Houthis’ first publicly claimed strike on Israel since the current US-Iran-Israel conflict erupted, and comes after repeated warnings from the group that it would join the war if Tehran continued to come under attack or if more countries became involved.

On Friday, the Houthis had warned that they were prepared for “direct military intervention" and said they would act if the Red Sea was used for “hostile operations" or if the US-Israeli military campaign widened further.

“We affirm that our fingers are on the trigger for direct military intervention," the group had said.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, had previously launched repeated missile and drone attacks on Israel during the Gaza war, while also targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in what they said was support for Palestinians.

However, they had until now largely refrained from directly entering the current Iran-linked war.

Their latest move comes at a time when the Red Sea has taken on renewed strategic importance, particularly after disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz forced Gulf producers such as Saudi Arabia to reroute a significant share of oil exports through the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast.

With Iran effectively tightening control around Hormuz and warning commercial shipping, the Houthis’ re-entry into the conflict raises fears that maritime routes in both the Gulf and the Red Sea could now come under simultaneous pressure.

If the group escalates further, it could significantly complicate the regional security picture and deepen concerns over energy supply chains, global trade, and the risk of a broader multi-front war across West Asia.

News world New Front In West Asia War As Yemen’s Houthis Launch Missile At Israel

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