Houthis & Iran War: Escalation in Red Sea & Attacks on Israel

Yemen’s Houthi movement has formally entered the conflict between Iran and its adversaries, launching a barrage of ballistic missiles towards southern Israel on Saturday, March 30, 2026. This action marks a significant escalation in the regional conflict, opening a fourth front and raising concerns about further disruption to global shipping lanes.

Brigadier-General Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Iran-aligned group, announced the attack via Houthi satellite network, stating the missiles targeted “sensitive Israeli military sites.” Saree added that attacks would continue “until the aggression against all fronts of the resistance ceases,” referencing Iran and its ally Hezbollah, according to reports from TIME magazine.

The Israeli military confirmed intercepting the missile launched from Yemen. This move by the Houthis, long threatened, adds a new dimension to the conflict which began on February 28th with a joint United States-Israeli attack that resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Since then, Iran has launched counterattacks against U.S. Bases across the Gulf and strategic infrastructure, significantly slowing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. These attacks have had a substantial impact on global oil and energy prices, causing a surge in gas prices in the U.S.

Threat to Red Sea Shipping

The Houthis are also threatening to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping chokepoint controlling sea traffic toward the Suez Canal, if any Gulf countries join the U.S. And Israeli strikes against Iran. This threat, reported by The Times of Israel, could further destabilize the global economy, following Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz last month.

“We bear a religious, moral and humanitarian responsibility that precludes us from standing idly by,” Houthi Deputy Information Minister Mohammed Mansour told Al-Monitor. “The option of closing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a Yemeni option that can be implemented should the aggression against Iran and Lebanon escalate savagely, or if any Gulf state becomes directly involved in military operations in support of the [Zionist] entity or the United States.”

Mohammed Mansour, Houthi Deputy Information Minister

This escalation follows a pattern established between November 2023 and January 2025, when the Houthis attacked over 100 merchant vessels in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war. While many of their missile launches towards Israel during that period were intercepted, the group demonstrated its capacity to disrupt global shipping.

Houthi Independence and Coordination with Iran

Despite their close ties to Iran, reports indicate the Houthis maintain a degree of independence. According to Al Jazeera, the group coordinates with Iran but does not operate as a mere proxy. This dynamic is crucial to understanding their motivations and potential actions in the ongoing conflict.

The Washington Institute reports that the Houthis’ recent actions were linked to the escalating trajectory of the conflict. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree outlined conditions that would trigger military action: continued escalation against Iran and its allies, the involvement of additional countries on the side of the U.S. And Israel, and the use of the Red Sea for hostile operations.

The Houthis’ most significant leverage lies in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical waterway for global trade. Their ability to disrupt traffic through this strait poses a substantial threat to the global economy, potentially driving oil prices as high as $200 per barrel if Saudi exports are targeted, as noted by The Economist.

The Houthis’ entry into the war represents a significant escalation, adding a complex new dimension to the conflict between Iran and its adversaries. The potential for further disruption to global shipping and energy markets remains high, as does the risk of wider regional instability.