Iran-Backed Houthis Launch Missile at Southern Israel

Latest Developments

Houthis Join War: The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen launched a ballistic missile targeting the southern Israeli city of Beersheva on March 28, its first entry into the current conflict. The IDF confirmed that it had intercepted a missile from Yemen.
Houthis Confirm Launches: Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed carrying out the attack, stating that the group fired “a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting sensitive Israeli military sites.” The group said that its “operations…will continue until the declared objectives are achieved.”
Houthis Supported Hamas After October 7: After Hamas’s October 7, 2023, atrocities in southern Israel, the Houthis entered the war in support of the Palestinian terrorist organization, launching missiles and drones at Israel throughout the fighting in Gaza and targeting shipping in the Red Sea. After the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October 2025, the Houthis stopped firing at Israel.

FDD Expert Response

“After weeks of speculation over its decision to sit on the sidelines of this war, the Iran-backed Houthis have announced their arrival with a missile volley to Israel’s south. The impact on Israel will likely be minimal. The Houthi missiles are detectable and relatively easy to intercept. By contrast, the deleterious impact on the Houthis will likely be much greater, with Israel having collected intelligence on the group since it stopped firing in October. One can expect the Houthi leadership and infrastructure to sustain serious damage in the days to come. The concern now, however, is whether the Houthis use this opportunity to try to block the Bab Al-Mandab Strait to shut down shipping in the Red Sea at the direction of the Islamic Republic. This could roil energy markets even more. In other words, with this latest development, this conflict could be widening more significantly beyond just Yemen.” — Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director

“Now that the Houthis have entered the conflict, all eyes will be on the Red Sea and the possibility of the closure of a second major maritime choke point. However, the decision to target Israel could be a calculated move on the part of the Houthis meant to signal they are still a threat, adding to Iran’s leverage in any negotiations. The group likely assesses that limited attacks on Israel are unlikely to invite a strong response.” — Bridget Toomey, Research Analyst