Yemen05 May, 20251 min read
Houthi Rebels Launch Coordinated Attacks on Israel With Iran and Hezbollah
Houthis, backed by Iran and Hezbollah, launched a joint missile and drone attack on Israel. Ben Gurion Airport (Lod) was targeted among several Israeli military sites.
Joint Military Operation
Yemen's Houthi rebels announced a joint military operation with Iran's IRGC and Hezbollah. The operation targeted vital Israeli military sites in Eilat using cruise missiles and drones.
The Houthis framed the attack as support for the axis of Jihad and Resistance and confronting the Zionist plan. This was the fifth attack since the Houthis announced direct engagement in the war.
Escalation in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz
The attack came amid broader regional escalations including the restoration of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. An official at Iraq's Basra Oil Company said crude exports could be restored to about 3.4 million barrels per day if shipments resume.
The Houthis warned of gradual escalation, adjusting actions depending on the enemy's escalation or de-escalation. Israel said it was consulting Washington on how to respond to the Houthi attacks.
Israel-Houthi Confrontation Intensifies
Israeli sources confirmed detecting and intercepting missiles and drones launched from Yemen with no casualties reported. The Israeli military said early detection allowed it to neutralize the threat.
Israeli officials said the bodies of four people killed in an Iranian strike on Haifa had been recovered. The confrontation came as Israel continued to pound Lebanon targeting Hezbollah.
Strategic Implications of Houthi Involvement
The Houthis' expansion of the war into a wider conflict underscored the widening ground-level consequences.
Tabnak observed that the Houthis lacked a clear weakness or defined center of gravity.
The U.S. Office of Legal Counsel prepared a memorandum arguing the strikes were lawful acts of self-defense.