Yemen’s Houthi rebels have expressed their willingness to support Iran in its conflict with Israel, amid escalating tensions between the two nations. According to Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree, the group is coordinating with Tehran and has launched attacks on Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian and Iranian peoples. Saree stated that the Houthis fired several ballistic missiles at Jaffa, emphasizing their commitment to supporting Iran and Palestine.
The Houthis have been launching periodic missile and drone attacks on Israel since 2023, which they claim are in support of Palestinians in Gaza. These attacks have forced Israel to spread out its air defenses, making it more challenging to respond to potential threats from Iran.
Yemen expert Nicholas Brumfield noted that “the constant threat of Houthi attacks coming from the south requires Israel to spread out its air defenses rather than positioning them all to more effectively [defend] counterattacks coming from Iran”.
The Houthi attacks on Israel and shipping in the Red Sea have significant implications for regional stability. If the conflict escalates, Gulf countries may find themselves threatened by Houthi attacks, particularly those with US bases, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Brumfield said that “the Houthis are trying to recover from the US strikes we saw between mid-March and May, and probably aren’t begging to restart those more intensive strikes if they don’t have to”. However, if the Houthis perceive themselves as part of a larger regional war, they may resume more aggressive actions.
The Houthis have previously attacked Saudi Arabia, cutting its oil production by around 50 percent in 2019 after drone strikes on oil plants. Analysts believe that while the Saudis have worked to maintain stable relations with the Houthis, attacks on Saudi Arabia are not off the table if the Houthi leadership favors a military-first approach.
The conflict in the region also poses significant risks to global shipping. The Houthis have attacked ships in the Red Sea, and Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil exports. About 20 million barrels per day (BPD) of petroleum liquids pass through the Strait of Hormuz, accounting for around 20 percent of global consumption. Brumfield warned that sea mines could be used to block shipping lanes, introducing considerable uncertainty for global shippers.
In response to the growing threat, the international community remains vigilant, monitoring the situation closely and weighing options for responding to potential escalation.
As Hussain Albukhaiti, a pro-Houthi political commentator, said, “I don’t think that Iran or Yemen will hesitate to use sea mines if necessary to block the entire shipping lines in our region”. The situation remains fluid, with the potential for significant consequences for regional stability and global trade.