Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have opened a new front in the widening Middle East war, claiming a missile launch toward Israel.

After the war in the Middle East broke out, the Houthis voiced support for their ally in the face of a US-Israeli offensive, refraining from taking part while warning that they had their fingers “on the trigger”.

On March 28, they pulled it, announcing they had carried out the first military operation using a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting ‘sensitive Israeli military sites.’

Israel on Saturday reported detecting a missile launch from Yemen towards Israel and said it was working to intercept it. In a later post on X, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that aerial defense systems intercepted the threat. There were no reports of casualties.

Houthi spokesperson of the Yemeni armed forces Yahya Saree later said the group carried out a second attack in parts of southern Israel in less than 24 hours and vowed more strikes to come. The military forces carried out the second military operation with a barrage of cruise missiles and drones targeting, as they claim, several vital and military sites belonging to Israel.

The launch of missiles and drones by the Houthis toward southern Israel is seen by analysts as a warning message to the United States, especially if it proceeds with a large-scale military operation involving marines in the Persian Gulf.

U.S. sailors, Marines deployed amid Iran war

In a post on social media, US Central Command (Centcom) said on Saturday that the America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli has arrived in the Centcom region.

It said the ship leads a unit of about 3,500 sailors and marines, along with transport and strike fighter aircraft.

Specifically, U.S. sailors and marines aboard the USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on March 27.

Centcom stated Saturday that the flagship delivered about 3,500 sailors and Marines from the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, along with “transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets.”

The U.S. Central Command also wrote in a post that it had struck more than 11,000 targets and destroyed more than 150 Iranian vessels since the conflict began.

The move by the Houthis – announced via a statement on X – opens a new front in the war and raises fresh risks for the oil market. The war has spread further after Yemen’s Houthis launched missile strikes towards Israel on Saturday. If the Iran-backed group decides to attack ships in the Red Sea, it could add to disruption for shipping.

A missile attack on Israel by Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen raises concern that Tehran’s proxies may again try to block Red Sea shipping routes, as Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz keeps another key global trade passage virtually closed.

The Houthi attacks on vessels would not only further push up oil prices but destabilize all maritime security. Such a move would further disrupt the maritime industry and the global economy since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has shaken markets and energy prices.

Rubio warns Europe that Iran could impose ‘tolling system’ on Strait of Hormuz

US secretary of state Marco Rubio warned European allies that Iran could set up a “tolling system” in the Strait of Hormuz.

“I did describe to our allies, however, that immediately after this thing ends, and we’re done with our objectives, the immediate challenge we’re going to face is an Iran that may decide that they want to set up a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz,” he said. “Not only is this illegal, it’s unacceptable, it’s dangerous for the world. And it’s important that the world have a plan to confront it.”

He added that the U.S. “is prepared to be a part of that plan” but not lead it, and that allies had a lot at stake if Iran carries out such a plan.

“But these countries have a lot at stake, not just the G7 countries, but countries in Asia and all over the world have a lot at stake and should contribute greatly to that effort,” he continued.