Houthi forces enter Iran conflict with missile attacks on Israeli military sites
Houthi Forces Join Iran Conflict, Target Israeli Military Sites
The Iran conflict has broadened as Houthi forces from Yemen join the fray, launching missile strikes on Israeli military installations. This escalation marks a significant shift, with the Houthis—close Iranian allies—declaring they will continue operations until aggression ends across all fronts. Israel confirmed intercepting one missile fired from Yemen, though the full scope of damage remains unclear.
Regional Diplomacy in Question
Pakistan has stepped forward to host a regional summit of Middle Eastern powers on Monday, aiming to foster collaborative solutions. However, the gathering included foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt, omitting the warring parties themselves. This exclusion has cast doubt on US assertions of diplomatic strides, despite ongoing efforts to mediate.
Weapons and Strategic Impacts
Reports indicate that the US has deployed cluster munitions, raising concerns over their indiscriminate effects. Experts at Bellingcat identified mines found near a missile base in Shiraz as Gator anti-tank mines, a banned cluster weapon used by over 100 nations. Meanwhile, Iran’s central command claimed to have struck a Ukrainian anti-drone system depot in Dubai, accusing it of aiding US forces.
The Houthis’ control of Yemen’s densely populated regions now threatens the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital maritime route at the Red Sea’s southern edge. If this strait were closed, it would compound the economic disruption caused by Iran’s blockade of the Hormuz passage. Such a scenario could also reignite the Saudi-Yemen conflict, which has caused severe humanitarian crises over the past seven years.
Saudi Arabia has been rerouting oil exports through the Red Sea since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Officials there warn that a threat to this alternative path might compel Riyadh to enter the war directly. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have signed defense pacts with Ukraine, which has been supplying anti-drone technology to Gulf states since the war began.
Escalation and Condemnation
“The Houthis’ decision to expand the conflict is a major escalation with serious consequences,” said Farea Al-Muslimi, a Middle East expert at Chatham House. “Key trade routes and regional infrastructure are now at risk of being disrupted.”
Iran’s use of cluster warheads on Israeli targets has drawn criticism from US Central Command, with Admiral Brad Cooper calling them “inherently indiscriminate.” Despite US claims of devastating Iran’s military capabilities, intelligence sources suggest Washington has only confirmed destruction of a third of its missile and drone stockpile. The conflict’s spread continues to test global supply chains and economic stability.
