Yemen’s Houthis escalate attacks on Israel as they are drawn into Iran war – with vital trade route at risk of shutdown: Live updates
Yemen’s Houthis intensify assaults on Israeli targets as regional tensions escalate: Live updates
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have reportedly launched a second strike against southern Israel, deploying a series of cruise missiles and drone attacks. This follows Israel’s military confirming it had successfully neutralized the first wave of assaults earlier in the day. The incident has raised alarms about the potential for the armed group to align with Iran in targeting maritime traffic, including critical shipping lanes.
Analysts warn that the Houthi militia’s involvement could lead to the closure of the Suez Canal, which is vital for global trade. This follows their overnight engagement in the Middle East, where a missile was fired toward Israel, signaling a deeper entanglement in the regional conflict. The Suez Canal, a strategic choke point, could become a secondary target after the group’s recent attacks on Red Sea vessels during the Gaza war.
“The Houthis possess considerable capability to disrupt critical maritime routes, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal,” said Mohamad Elmasry, a Media Studies professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. “Such actions could mirror their previous strikes and further destabilize international commerce.”
Meanwhile, more than two dozen U.S. troops have been injured in Iranian air strikes targeting a Saudi air base over the past week. Notably, 15 casualties were reported during an attack on the Prince Sultan air base on Friday. The conflict has expanded overnight, with strikes reported in Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and Bahrain, intensifying the regional stakes.
Israel has vowed to expand its military actions against the Islamic Republic, while U.S. President Donald Trump suggested considering troop deployment to the area. Iran has cautioned that such a move would result in a substantial retaliation. The Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, have declared their readiness to intervene directly if attacks on the country persist.
Brig Gen Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, emphasized that the group’s strikes are a response to ongoing aggression against Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and the Palestinian territories. “Our forces are prepared for immediate action if the escalation continues,” Saree stated, highlighting the group’s commitment to the conflict until all threats are neutralized.
Further concerns have emerged as the pro-Iranian militia group Ashab al-Kahf, active in Iraq, announced plans to direct civilians away from U.S. interests in Jordan. The group has previously claimed responsibility for multiple airstrikes on American bases and their allies. Jordan’s military reported intercepting 20 out of 222 Iranian attacks targeting the country this week, as the war enters its fourth week.
With the Houthis now embedded in the regional conflict, fears grow of broader disruptions to shipping. This includes the possibility of closing the Red Sea alongside the already-blocked Strait of Hormuz. Activists in Tel Aviv have staged large protests, demanding an end to the conflict, marking the largest demonstrations since the war began in February.
