Houthi forces enter Iran conflict with missile attacks on Israeli military sites
Houthi forces enter Iran conflict with missile attacks on Israeli military sites
The conflict between the US and Iran has broadened with the involvement of Houthi groups in Yemen, marking a significant escalation that threatens to disrupt global economic stability. Pakistan has proposed a regional summit on Monday, aiming to unite Middle Eastern nations in addressing the crisis. However, the gathering, which featured Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt’s foreign ministers, excluded the actual combatants, fueling skepticism about US assertions of diplomatic progress.
Houthi forces, aligned with Iran, launched a series of ballistic missiles at Israeli military installations over the weekend, declaring their intent to continue hostilities until Iranian-backed aggression concludes. Israel confirmed it intercepted one missile from Yemen, while US intelligence indicated Washington had only confirmed the destruction of a third of Iran’s missile and drone stockpiles. A separate strike on Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan airbase injured at least 12 US personnel, with two critically wounded. Meanwhile, drones targeted Kuwait’s international airport, damaging its radar systems.
The Houthi control of Yemen’s densely populated regions now poses a direct risk to the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical waterway near the Red Sea’s southern edge. This strait, along with Hormuz, serves as a vital link for energy and trade. A closure of Bab al-Mandab could intensify economic fallout, potentially reigniting the Saudi-Yemen conflict that caused severe humanitarian crises before a 2022 truce.
“The decision by the Houthis to join the broader Middle East conflict marks a serious and deeply concerning escalation,” remarked Farea Al-Muslimi, a Middle East and North Africa researcher at Chatham House. “The potential impact on key commercial maritime routes, especially in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab, cannot be overstated. Vital economic and military infrastructure across the Gulf may become increasingly exposed.”
Saudi Arabia, which has rerouted some oil exports via the Red Sea since the US-Israeli strike on Iran in early March, faces new concerns if this route is compromised. US media reported the use of cluster munitions in the conflict, with experts from Bellingcat identifying Gator anti-tank mines in an Iranian village as evidence. These mines, banned by over 100 nations for their indiscriminate effects, are part of the US arsenal, though Iran employs cluster warheads on ballistic missiles.
Iran’s central command claimed to have struck a Ukrainian anti-drone system depot in Dubai, accusing it of aiding US forces. Dubai authorities have yet to confirm the attack. Ukraine has supplied anti-drone technology to Gulf states since the war began, leveraging its experience with Russian strikes. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced cooperation with the UAE on defense and visited Qatar, as his country seeks to expand alliances.
Amid rising tensions, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief Field Marshal Asin Munir attempted to mediate US-Iran talks. While Trump asserted such discussions were already underway and progressing well, Tehran denied any prior engagements. As the war enters its second month, the conflict’s spread continues to test regional stability and international supply chains.
