What's happened
Since October 2023, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched over 67 ballistic missiles and multiple drone attacks targeting Israel and maritime traffic in the Red Sea. Israel has responded with airstrikes on Houthi-controlled ports including Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif. Recent missile attacks on Israel, including one targeting Ben Gurion Airport, have been intercepted without casualties.
What's behind the headline?
Strategic Escalation and Regional Implications
The ongoing missile and drone attacks by the Houthis against Israel represent a significant escalation in the broader Middle East conflict, extending the Gaza war's reach into Yemen. The Houthis' campaign, backed by Iran, targets both Israeli territory and critical maritime routes in the Red Sea, disrupting global trade and regional security.
Israel's Response and Military Strategy
Israel's repeated airstrikes on Houthi-controlled ports and infrastructure, including the use of drones for targeted strikes, demonstrate a strategic effort to degrade the Houthis' military capabilities and supply lines. Defense Minister Israel Katz's statements equating Yemen's fate with Tehran's signal a willingness to intensify military pressure beyond traditional battlefronts.
Impact on Global Maritime Trade
The Houthis' attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea have forced rerouting of maritime traffic, causing the largest disruption to global trade since the COVID-19 pandemic. This highlights the conflict's broader economic consequences, affecting energy and commodity supplies worldwide.
Forecast and Consequences
The conflict is likely to persist with continued missile launches and retaliatory strikes, as neither side shows signs of de-escalation. The Houthis' alignment with Iran and Hamas suggests a coordinated regional front against Israel, potentially drawing in wider geopolitical actors. Maritime security will remain precarious, impacting global trade and prompting increased international naval presence.
Relevance to Readers
While geographically distant, the conflict's disruption of global shipping routes can affect fuel prices and supply chains worldwide. The escalation underscores the interconnectedness of regional conflicts and global economic stability.
What the papers say
The Times of Israel provides detailed accounts of the missile interceptions and Israeli airstrikes on Houthi targets, emphasizing the military aspects and Israel's strategic responses. For example, it reports that "the IDF said in a statement that those airstrikes destroyed 'military infrastructure of the Houthis terror regime' at the western Yemen port" and notes the Houthis' slogan calling for "Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the Jews." The New Arab highlights the Houthis' perspective, quoting military spokesman Yehya Saree describing their attacks as acts of solidarity with Palestinians and detailing their missile and drone operations, including targeting Ben Gurion Airport and Israeli ports. Gulf News and AP News focus on the broader regional impact, particularly the disruption of maritime trade in the Red Sea, with Gulf News noting the "largest disruption to global trade since the Covid-19 pandemic" due to Houthi attacks on shipping lanes. Al Jazeera offers a comprehensive view of the conflict's escalation, including Israeli strikes on multiple Yemeni ports and the power plant, and the Houthis' claims of repelling Israeli air attacks. It also situates the conflict within the wider Middle East tensions, mentioning Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon and ongoing hostilities in Gaza and the West Bank. Together, these sources provide a multifaceted picture of the conflict, balancing military developments, regional dynamics, and economic consequences.
How we got here
The Houthis began attacking Israel and shipping lanes in November 2023, aligning with Hamas amid the Gaza conflict. Their attacks intensified after Israel resumed its offensive against Hamas in March 2025. Israel has retaliated with multiple airstrikes on Houthi infrastructure in Yemen, aiming to disrupt missile launches and maritime threats.
Go deeper
- How has Israel responded to the Houthi missile attacks?
- What impact do Houthi attacks have on global shipping in the Red Sea?
- What is the connection between the Houthis and Iran in this conflict?
Common question
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Why Are Houthis Attacking Israel and What Does It Mean for the Region?
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More on these topics
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Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is a country at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is the second-largest Arab sovereign state in the peninsula, occupying 527,970 square kilometres.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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The Israel Defense Forces, commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal, are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force, and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has
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The Houthi movement, officially called Ansar Allah and colloquially simply Houthis, is an Islamic political and armed movement that emerged from Sa'dah in northern Yemen in the 1990s.
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Ben Gurion Airport, commonly known by its Hebrew acronym as Natbag, is the main international airport of Israel and the busiest airport in the country, located on the northern outskirts of the city of Lod, which is about 45 km northwest of Jerusalem and 2