Houthi Missile at Israel Raises New Red Sea Shipping Threats

An Associated Press report says Iranian‑backed Houthi rebels in Yemen fired a missile barrage at what they called “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel on Saturday, marking their first direct strike on Israel since the wider Middle East war began and raising fears they may again target Red Sea shipping. The Israeli military says it intercepted at least one missile fired from Yemen, and spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said Israel is preparing for a “multifront war.” Analysts note the Houthis are a key part of Iran’s regional network and now openly threaten to block U.S. and Israeli use of the Red Sea, which would further destabilize global maritime security at a time when Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has already rattled energy markets. The Bab el‑Mandeb chokepoint at the southern end of the Red Sea carries a large share of Saudi crude exports and about a quarter of global container traffic headed to or from the Suez Canal, so renewed Houthi attacks there could force more ships to reroute around Africa, driving up costs that ultimately hit U.S. consumers. Experts quoted warn that if pressure on Iran escalates, the Houthis are likely to “jump in harshly,” including potentially striking Persian Gulf oil facilities as they have in the past.