Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced on Saturday that they had launched a long-range ballistic missile into southern Israel as an act of solidarity with Palestinians amid ongoing hostilities in Gaza. A military spokesperson claimed the missile had hit its intended target, although Israeli authorities have not confirmed this claim.
Houthis spokesperson Yahya Saree addressed a press conference broadcast by Al-Masirah TV channel and declared, “the missile hit its target with pinpoint accuracy.” This operation, according to Yahya Saree, was part of their continued retaliation against Israeli aggression against Palestinian people – particularly in Gaza.
Since the outbreak of Israel-Gaza war in October 2023, Iran-align Houthis have repeatedly claimed responsibility for rocket and drone attacks aimed at Israel that have been intercepted either by Israeli defense systems or U.S./allied naval forces operating in Red Sea waters.
Israeli forces have yet to issue an official response, though in past instances they have acknowledged attempted attacks from Yemen that were successfully intercepted before any damage was done. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage being sustained in southern Israel as of Saturday evening.
An anonymous senior Israeli defense official told AFP that they are aware of the launch and investigations are currently ongoing to ascertain if any object penetrated Israeli airspace. “Our defensive systems remain on high alert,” according to this official.
This latest flareup of violence comes at a time of increasing instability across the region, as multiple fronts remain volatile. The Houthis have used this conflict to assert their role within an “Axis of Resistance,” comprising Iran, Hezbollah and other groups opposed to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Western officials, particularly from the United States, have expressed growing alarm at Yemen’s expanding conflict. U.S. naval forces stationed in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have been charged with intercepting missiles launched from Yemen as well as protecting international shipping routes targeted by Houthi forces.
Houthi leadership insists its actions are justified under what it deems as their moral duty to defend Palestinians. According to one Houthi political bureau member in Sanaa, Houthis are part of the resistance front. Our operations will continue as long as Israeli aggression continues.”
Humanitarian organizations have warned that Yemen’s already dire situation could deteriorate further if retaliatory strikes further destabilize the region. Yemen has been mired in civil conflict since 2014, and any new conflict risks exacerbating civilian suffering further.