Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim their first missile attack on Israel, escalating regional tensions as the Israeli military intercepts the threat.
JERUSALEM: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed their first direct strike on Israel since the Middle East war began a month ago.
The Israeli military confirmed it had identified and intercepted a missile launch from Yemen toward its territory.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree stated the group launched ballistic missiles at Israeli military sites. He made the announcement in a video statement posted on social media platform X.
The group controls most of northern Yemen and had previously targeted Israel during the Gaza war. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the latest attack.
Media reports suggested the missile may have been successfully intercepted by Israeli defences. The Houthis had threatened to join the regional conflict if Iran continued to be attacked.
They also warned of intervention if more nations joined the US-Israeli fight. The group’s statement on Friday affirmed its readiness for “direct military intervention”.
It specifically warned against using the Red Sea for “hostile operations”. During the Gaza war, the Houthis repeatedly attacked shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
They stated those attacks were in solidarity with Palestinians. The group has so far refrained from such maritime attacks in the current conflict.
The strategic Red Sea has gained importance during the US-Israeli war with Iran. Saudi Arabia has diverted a large portion of its oil exports to the port of Yanbu.
This shift follows Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The closure has cut off access to the Gulf.
