Yemen's Houthis Launch First Attack on Israel as Middle East War Enters Second Month
Tehran, 29 March 2026
Iran-backed Houthis fired ballistic missiles at Israeli military targets on 28 March 2026, marking their dramatic entry into the escalating US-Israeli war against Iran that began on 28 February. The attack represents a significant expansion of the conflict, which has now claimed over 3,000 lives across multiple countries and threatens global shipping routes through the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of world oil passes daily.
Houthis Enter Regional War with Missile Strike
This latest escalation builds upon the deadly cluster bomb attacks on Tel Aviv that killed two civilians three weeks ago, as detailed in our previous coverage of the Iran strikes on central Israel. On Saturday, 28 March 2026, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis launched their first missile attack against Israel since the US-Israeli war against Iran began on 28 February [1][2][3]. The Israeli Defence Forces confirmed intercepting a missile launched from Yemen, with sirens sounding near Beer Sheba and Israel’s nuclear research centre [1]. Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree claimed the group had targeted “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel using “a barrage of ballistic missiles” [1][4]. The attack marks the Houthis’ dramatic entry into what they describe as joining the “axis of resistance” alongside Hezbollah and Hamas [5].
Military Reinforcements and Regional Spread
The conflict’s expansion has prompted significant military mobilisation across the region. The USS Tripoli, carrying 3,500 sailors and Marines, arrived in the Middle East on 28 March 2026, adding to the substantial US military presence [2]. This deployment coincides with reports that more than two dozen US troops were wounded in Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base within the past week [3]. The regional impact has spread beyond direct combatants, with Kuwait reporting “material damage” to Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait City and Mubarak Al Kabeer Port on 28 March, whilst Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry confirmed shooting down missiles and drones targeting Riyadh the same day [1]. Nine paramedics were killed and seven wounded in five separate attacks in southern Lebanon on 28 March, highlighting the conflict’s toll on civilian infrastructure [2].
Economic Disruption and Energy Markets
The Houthis’ entry into the conflict has intensified concerns about global shipping disruption, particularly given their control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and previous attacks on merchant vessels [4][5]. From November 2023 to January 2025, Houthi rebels attacked over 100 merchant vessels in the Red Sea, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors [1][4]. The strategic importance of these waterways cannot be overstated: approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the Strait of Hormuz, whilst 15% of global seaborne trade typically transits the Red Sea [5]. Oil markets have responded dramatically to the escalation, with US crude rising 5.46% to $99.64 per barrel and Brent crude gaining 4.22% to $112.57 on 27 March 2026 [3]. The Port of Salalah in Oman experienced drone activity and explosions on 27 March, resulting in temporary suspension of operations, with Maersk estimating a 48-hour halt [3].
Diplomatic Efforts and Humanitarian Impact
Despite the military escalation, diplomatic initiatives continue as regional powers attempt to prevent further spread of the conflict. Pakistan announced on 27 March that foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt would arrive on 29 March for a two-day visit to discuss de-escalation efforts [3]. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed scepticism about diplomatic efforts on 28 March, accusing the US of “unreasonable demands” and “contradictory actions” [3]. The humanitarian toll continues to mount across the region, with the UN reporting 82,000 civilian buildings damaged in Iran, affecting 180,000 people [1]. Current death tolls stand at over 1,900 in Iran, 19 in Israel, more than 1,100 in Lebanon, at least 13 US troops, 80 Iraqi security forces, 20 in Gulf states, and 4 in the West Bank [1][3]. For refugees from the affected regions, this escalation threatens family connections and complicates potential return considerations, as the conflict shows no signs of immediate resolution despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.