Saudi-led Coalition Downs Houthi Attack on Israel, More Expected

The Saudi-led coalition intercepted a Houthi attack on Israel launched from Yemen on Tuesday. The Houthi group, backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they had launched a “large number” of drones and ballistic missiles towards Israel. This marks the third attack on Israel by the Houthi group, with further attacks promised in the future.

The Israeli military had previously reported downing an approaching “aerial target” in the Red Sea near Eilat. The Houthis’ military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, stated in a televised statement that these attacks would continue until “Israeli aggression” in the war against Hamas in Gaza ceased.

The Houthi leader, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, had warned earlier this month that if the U.S. directly intervened in the Gaza conflict, the group would respond with drone and missile attacks, as well as other military options. The Houthis align themselves with the “Axis of Resistance,” which includes Iranian-backed Shiite Muslim factions in Iraq and Lebanon‘s Hezbollah group.

The conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition has been ongoing since 2015 and has resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of people. Throughout the conflict, the Houthis have targeted strategic assets in the Gulf, especially energy facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Last week, Israel accused the Houthi movement of launching drones that caused explosions in two Egyptian towns on the Red Sea, allegedly with the intention to strike Israel. The Pentagon also reported that a U.S. Navy warship intercepted three cruise missiles and several drones launched by the Houthis from Yemen, potentially towards Israel.

The Israeli military confirmed using the “Arrow” aerial defense system for the first time since the war with Hamas began on October 7th to intercept a surface-to-surface missile in the Red Sea. Separately, Israeli fighter jets intercepted other aerial targets during these incidents.

In a separate domestic incident, a wildfire fueled by desert winds burned 2,200 acres in Riverside County, Southern California, prompting evacuation orders for 4,000 people.