Houthis launch missile at Israel, claim responsibility in first strike since war began

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a missile attack on Israel, marking their first direct strike since the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel began.

The missile was launched early on March 28, with Israeli forces confirming that they detected and attempted to intercept the incoming projectile. Air raid sirens were triggered in parts of southern Israel as authorities activated defence systems.

In a statement, the Iran-aligned Houthi group said it had fired a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting what it described as “sensitive” Israeli sites. The attack was presented as retaliation for continued strikes on Iran and allied regions, including Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestinian territories.

The development marks the Houthis’ formal entry into the conflict, significantly raising concerns about a broader regional escalation. Analysts say the involvement of Yemen-based forces opens a new front in the war, which has already spread across multiple countries in West Asia.

Israel said its air defence systems were engaged in intercepting the missile, though it did not immediately provide details on damage or casualties. The country operates a multi-layered defence network designed to counter threats from long-range missiles, including those launched from Yemen.

The Houthis, who control large parts of Yemen, have previously targeted shipping routes and regional adversaries but had not directly entered the current conflict until now. Their decision to launch a missile at Israel follows weeks of escalating rhetoric and warnings of potential intervention.

The strike comes amid intensifying hostilities across the region, with Iran and Israel exchanging missile attacks and the United States continuing military operations targeting Iranian infrastructure. The widening scope of the conflict has already disrupted global energy supplies and heightened geopolitical tensions.

With multiple actors now directly engaged, the situation in West Asia continues to evolve rapidly, raising fears of a prolonged and more widespread regional war.