Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a new missile and drone attack on southern Israel, the latest in a series of long-range strikes that threaten to widen the regional conflict sparked by the war in Gaza. A spokesperson for the group stated the operation targeted military and other sensitive sites in the southern Israeli port city of Eilat, continuing what they describe as a campaign of support for Palestinians.
In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced that the group’s forces had launched a “large number of ballistic missiles and drones” toward Eilat. While the group claimed successful hits, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that its air defense systems had successfully intercepted a “suspicious aerial target” that was approaching Israeli territory from the east, an apparent reference to the Houthi launch. There were no reports of injuries or damage inside Israel.
The Houthis, an Iran-aligned Zaydi Shia political and military organization that controls much of Yemen, have declared themselves part of an “axis of resistance” against Israel and its Western allies. Since November 2023, they have launched numerous attacks targeting Israel and have significantly disrupted global trade by attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. “These operations will not stop unless the aggression against our brothers in the Gaza Strip stops,” Saree reiterated in the statement.
Analysts suggest these attacks serve multiple purposes for the Houthis. “While the direct military impact on Israel has been minimal due to its robust, multi-layered air defense, the attacks carry significant symbolic and strategic weight,” said one regional security analyst. “They boost the Houthis’ standing at home and across the region, challenge Israeli and US defense capabilities, and demonstrate Iran’s ability to project power through its proxies.”
The continued strikes from Yemen underscore the persistent risk of a broader regional conflagration. The U.S. and its allies, including the United Kingdom, have conducted dozens of retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi military infrastructure inside Yemen. However, today’s claimed attack indicates the group retains the capability and willingness to continue its campaign, posing an ongoing threat to Israeli security and maritime stability.