Houthis Expand War on Israel, Red Sea Threat Grows After US-Israeli Strikes on Iran
Key Takeaways
- Houthis launch missiles at Israel, marking entry into the Iran-Israel war.
- Risk of Bab al-Mandeb closure threatens Red Sea shipping and global trade.
- Oil prices surge above $116 per barrel amid widening Middle East conflict.
Houthis Attack Israel
Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen fired cruise missiles and drones at southern Israel in retaliatory strikes.
Brigadier-General Yahya Saree announced the group's first attack on Israel.
The attack marked the Houthis' entry into a war that had mainly involved Iran, Israel, the United States, and regional Arab states before.
Red Sea Threat Intensifies
The Houthis' entry into the war heightened fears they could block the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Iran had already effectively blocked the nearby Strait of Hormuz.
The Guardian wrote the combined effect of both waterways being shut would be devastating for global commerce.
Iran Pressures Houthis on Red Sea
European officials reported that Iran was pressuring the Houthis to prepare for a renewed campaign against Red Sea shipping.
The Houthis had not yet explicitly threatened commercial shipping.
The longer the war continued, the greater the likelihood of attacks on the maritime corridor.
Houthi Motivation and Strategy
The Houthis had held back for a month after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
There are divisions within the Houthi leadership about how aggressively to escalate.
The Houthis said they would continue military operations until attacks on Iran cease.
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