Yemen’s Houthis Join Iran War Firing First Missile at Israel Since Hamas Truce
Yemen’s pro-Iran Houthis said on Friday they would join the war if ‘the escalation against Iran and the axis of resistance continues.’ No casualties have been reported as a result of the attack, Israeli authorities said Yemen’s pro-Iran Houtis confirm they launched a missile at Israel early on Saturday, describing the attack as a response to continued targeting of infrastructure in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestinian territories.
According to the Houthis’ statement, the attack was targeting “sensitive military sites” in Israel’s south.
Senior Houthi official Mohammed Mansour said his group is considering closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait, through which roughly one-eighth of global trade typically passes.
Israel said on Saturday it had detected a missile fired from Yemen, for the first time since a cease-fire with Hamas in Gaza was declared in October 2025. No casualties were reported as a result of the attack, which was directed at Israel’s south.
The attack came hours after the Houthis said they were prepared to act if an escalation against Iran and the “axis of resistance” continued, but did not say what form any intervention would take.
The Houtis will only act against Israel and the United States, and not against “any Muslim people”, said Houti spokesperson Yahya Saree on Friday.
Other Iranian Shi’ite allies in the region – Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iraqi militias – have already joined the war. Iranian officials have threatened to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean, according to reports in Iranian media. If Iran decides to interfere with traffic in the strait, it is likely to be carried out by Yemen’s Houthis due to their proximity to the area.
The Houthis previously fired missiles and drones at Israel and launched attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea during the Israel-Gaza war in support of Hamas in Gaza. The attacks have ceased after the October cease-fire agreement.
Before the attack from Yemen, there appeared to be progress made toward ending hostilities as Tehran agreed to allow humanitarian aid and agricultural shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
