Yemen’s Houthis have officially opened a new front in the Iran war, launching their first missile and drone strikes on Israel just as the US-Israel conflict enters its second month. The Iran-aligned group vowed to continue attacks in support of “resistance fronts” across Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran — dramatically widening a war that has already killed thousands and disrupted global oil and shipping routes.
Houthis Launch First Attacks on Israel Since War Began
On Saturday, the Yemeni Houthis fired two waves of ballistic missiles and drones at Israel within less than 24 hours. The Israeli military confirmed both attacks were intercepted, but Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea declared the group will keep striking until “aggression” against Iran and its allies ends.
This marks the Houthis’ entry into the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28. Unlike their heavy involvement in the Red Sea shipping attacks during the Gaza war, the Houthis had stayed on the sidelines until now — but their long-threatened intervention has now become reality.
Reporting from Sanaa, Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry called the Bab al-Mandeb Strait the Houthis’ “ace card.”
“They want to make Israel pay economically. They want to disrupt their trade routes. They want to disrupt the imports and exports in and out of Israel.”
Experts warn the Houthis could once again target Red Sea shipping, compounding the chaos already caused by Iran throttling the Strait of Hormuz.
Civilian Toll Mounts as War Enters Second Month
The US and Israel continued heavy bombardment over the weekend, striking an Iranian naval weapons research facility and causing loud explosions across Tehran. Iranian officials report 1,937 people killed since the conflict started — including 230 children — with more than 93,000 civilian properties damaged.
Al Jazeera’s Mohamed Vall, reporting from Tehran, said:
“Civilians are bearing the brunt of this war.”
In Lebanon, Israeli strikes have killed 1,189 people since March 2. Recent attacks claimed the lives of three journalists, nine paramedics, and a Lebanese soldier, pushing the healthcare worker death toll to 51. Hezbollah claimed dozens of operations against Israeli forces in the past 24 hours.
US Marines Deploy as Trump Sends Mixed Signals
Despite the escalation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington expects to wrap up major operations against Iran “within weeks.” A new deployment of US Marines has arrived in the region, giving President Donald Trump “maximum flexibility.”
Trump has threatened to target Iranian power stations and energy infrastructure if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but he has now extended the deadline by 10 days.
On the diplomatic front, Pakistan is hosting urgent talks between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt. Iran has agreed to allow 20 Pakistani-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz — a small but significant step toward easing the global energy crisis.
Why the Houthis’ New Front Matters for Global Security
The Houthis opening a new front in the Iran war raises the risk of a multi-front conflict that could engulf the entire region and further spike oil prices. With Bab al-Mandeb and Hormuz both under threat, global shipping and energy markets face unprecedented pressure.
Military analysts say this development makes the situation “much more complex” for the Trump administration and could derail hopes of a quick end to the war.
Will the Houthis escalate attacks on Red Sea shipping? Can diplomacy stop the spiral?
Drop your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for live updates on this rapidly evolving Houthis Iran war story.
