Houthis Enter Middle East Conflict: Yemen Rebels Fire Missiles At Israel And Threaten Red Sea Shipping

After weeks of threats, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels officially entered the Middle East conflict on Saturday, firing missiles at Israel and warning they could shut down a key Red Sea shipping route. The move raises concerns about further disruptions to global trade and oil flows.

Whether the Houthis will expand their attacks to Saudi Arabia or Red Sea shipping remains uncertain. If they do, it would mark a major escalation in the ongoing month-long war.

Who Are the Houthis and Why Are They Fighting?

The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, represent Yemen’s Shia Zaidi minority. Emerging as an armed movement in the 1990s, they waged multiple rebellions against Yemen’s central government and, after the Arab Spring in 2011, seized northern provinces and the capital, Sanaa. They continue to control much of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline.

Aligned with Iran, the Houthis have received weapons and missile technology, and in recent years have joined the so-called “Axis of Resistance.” Following Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza in October 2023, the Houthis launched missiles at Israel and began targeting Red Sea shipping, prompting Israeli airstrikes that killed several senior Houthi officials.

Nasr al-Din Amer, a member of the Houthis’ politburo, told CNN:
“The truth is, (Israel is) at war with us and in a state of continuous aggression against us. They have not stopped, nor have they concealed their pursuit of what they call ‘Greater Israel’ and ‘changing the Middle East.’”

Leader Abdel-Malik Houthi added that Yemenis “repay loyalty with loyalty, and Iran was the only state, officially, that stood with us against the aggression on our country,” highlighting the group’s alliance with Tehran while also sending warnings to Saudi Arabia over past blockades and attacks.

Red Sea Under Threat: Potential Impact on Global Shipping

The Houthis control most of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, including the major port of Hodeidah, and have drones and anti-ship missiles capable of hitting vessels.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait — a key chokepoint at the southern end of the Red Sea — is just 29 kilometres across at its narrowest point, leaving large container ships particularly vulnerable.

Houthi deputy Information Minister Mohammed Mansour told CNN:
“Closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait is a viable option, and the consequences will be borne by the American and Israeli aggressors.”

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Young Tow Truck Driver Shot Dead In Cape Town Attack

Shipping analysts warn that blocking this route could have severe economic consequences. Around 15% of global maritime trade passes through the strait, and past disruptions between 2023 and 2025 are estimated to have cost $20 billion annually.

With the Strait of Hormuz already largely blocked, any Red Sea disruption would exacerbate pressure on oil and shipping markets.

Global Oil and Shipping at Risk Amid Middle East Crisis

Saudi Arabia has been rerouting oil exports through its east-west pipeline to Yanbu on the Red Sea, and ports like Jeddah are handling higher container volumes. Both are potential targets for Houthi drones and missiles.

Charles van der Steene, Maersk’s regional managing director, told CNN:
“The primary risk that one could see is that the actual conflict itself spreads to a wider geography. While Jeddah continues to be a safe option, we need to consider what the alternatives would be.”

Experts warn that while the Houthis’ initial attacks may be symbolic, delayed responses from Israel could trigger a more serious escalation, potentially targeting Houthi leadership.