Yemen’s Houthis Movement launched a ballistic missile strike against Israel on March 28, 2026. The attack marked the Iran-backed group’s first military operation against Israeli territory since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran one month prior.
The Attack
Brigadier General Yahya Saree, military spokesman for the Houthis, announced the operation on the rebels’ Al-Masirah satellite television channel. He stated, “We have carried out our first military operation with a batch of ballistic missiles, which targeted sensitive military targets.”
Saree explained the timing of the strike. He said, “This operation coincided with the heroic operations carried out by the brothers, the fighters in Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the operation successfully achieved its goals.”
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the missile launch from Yemen. The military activated air defense systems to intercept the threat. Sirens sounded across Beersheba and surrounding communities in southern Israel. The IDF later gave the all-clear to sheltering civilians. No casualties or direct impacts were immediately reported.
Houthi Objectives
Brigadier General Omar Ma’rabouni, a Houthi-affiliated analyst, outlined the group’s strategic aims in an interview with Al-Masirah TV. He stated, “We stand fully militarily ready with all options.” He added that the entry into the war aimed to “complicate the scene for the Americans and Israelis, which is already complex.”
Ma’rabouni cited Yemen’s geographic position as a key factor. He pointed to the country’s leverage over critical maritime routes, including “the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.” He argued that such positioning directly impacts “military navigation movement” and constrains the operational flexibility of U.S. and Israeli forces in the region.
Regional Context
The attack occurred hours after Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities on March 27, 2026. The Israeli military targeted the Shahid Khondab Heavy Water Complex in Arak and the Ardakan yellowcake production plant in Yazd Province. Iran vowed to retaliate and subsequently struck a base in Saudi Arabia, wounding more than a dozen U.S. service members.
Furthermore, the Houthis had previously refrained from joining the conflict despite their role as a key component of Iran’s “axis of resistance.” The group maintained an uneasy ceasefire with Saudi Arabia, which had led a coalition against the Houthis since 2015.
A senior Houthi advisor cited by Al-Araby TV issued a warning following the strike. He stated, “We have developed a plan to prevent the passage of Israeli ships through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.”
