Houthi Rebels Launch Missiles at Israel and Threaten Shipping

The Houthi rebels formally entered the regional war on March 28, 2026, by launching a series of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones at sensitive military sites in southern Israel. The escalation follows a month of restraint since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched preemptive strikes against Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Israeli defenses intercepted the projectiles, including drones that triggered sirens in Eilat and a ballistic missile targeting Be'er Sheva.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated the operations were conducted in solidarity with Iran and the Axis of Resistance. The group warned that it would not allow the U.S. and Israel to use the Red Sea for attacks on Iran and declared that its "hands are on the trigger" for further intervention. Deputy Information Minister Mohammed Mansour added that closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait remains a viable option, which would further disrupt global energy markets already destabilized by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

This new front coincides with intensified regional fighting, including Iranian missile strikes on the Bazan oil refinery in Haifa and U.S. troops at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. President Donald Trump has set an April 6 deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while diplomatic talks led by Pakistan continue in Islamabad. The Israel Defense Forces have stated they are preparing for a multifront war as the conflict expands across Iran, Lebanon, and Yemen.