By Gloria Ogbonna
Iran-backed Houthi insurgents in Yemen claimed Thursday that they launched a “barrage of ballistic missiles” toward Tel Aviv, escalating rhetoric as fighting across the region deepens.
Houthi military spokesman Gen. Yahya Saree declared that the operation was carried out in coordination with allied forces.
“This operation was conducted jointly with our mujahideen brothers in Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and it successfully achieved its objectives,” Saree said.
The Houthis frequently assert that their missile and drone strikes accomplish their intended goals, even in cases where Israeli air defense systems intercept the incoming projectiles.
Saree praised allied militant groups across the region, offering “gratitude to the heroic fighters in Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, and Palestine” who he said are resisting what he described as a Western-backed campaign against the region.
However, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) presented a different account of Thursday’s events. According to Israeli officials, only one missile was launched from Yemen, and it appeared to be aimed at Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv. The missile was intercepted before reaching its target.
Separate missile launches targeting Tel Aviv did occur Thursday, but Israeli officials indicated those projectiles were fired from Iran directly. Meanwhile, Hezbollah — Iran’s proxy force in Lebanon — also launched rockets into Israeli territory the same day. In that sense, Saree’s assertion of “joint” coordination reflected the broader pattern of synchronized regional activity among Iran-aligned groups.
The IDF reported that since Wednesday morning, approximately 30 missiles have entered Israeli airspace from Iran. According to Israeli authorities, three of those missiles reportedly deployed cluster munitions — weapons that disperse smaller bomblets over wide areas, increasing the risk to civilians and making interception more difficult. Analysts note that cluster-style warheads can complicate air defense responses due to the number of submunitions released mid-flight.
The Houthis formally entered the conflict over the weekend, launching a limited number of ballistic missiles at Israel while framing their actions as coordinated efforts with Tehran and Hezbollah. Despite the fiery rhetoric, analysts suggest the group’s actions so far have been measured.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed Friday that while Houthi messaging emphasizes religious struggle and regional unity, their operational posture appears relatively restrained. According to ISW, strikes against Israel represent a “low-risk” method for the Houthis to signal solidarity with Iran without dramatically escalating tensions with Gulf states or the United States.
“Strikes on Israel are the Houthis’ most conservative and lowest-risk option to enter the war,” ISW noted, adding that such actions demonstrate involvement while minimizing the risk of broader regional entanglement.
Notably, the Houthis have refrained from resuming their previous campaign targeting international shipping lanes in the Red Sea — a strategy that previously disrupted global trade and drew military retaliation. A renewed maritime campaign, especially if combined with Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, could have sweeping economic consequences.
The group has warned that if the U.S. or Israel uses the Red Sea as a staging ground for attacks on Iran, it could escalate operations and potentially threaten the strategically vital Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. However, observers believe the Houthis may be hesitant to take such steps.
One factor may be their evolving relationship with Saudi Arabia. In recent years, the Houthis have reportedly developed financially beneficial arrangements with Riyadh, including indirect agreements tied to salary payments and economic stabilization. Escalating maritime attacks could jeopardize those arrangements and risk renewed Saudi military involvement.
ISW cited commentary from a Yemeni journalist, relayed through Israeli media, suggesting that the Houthis’ recent limited missile launches may have been influenced by delayed Saudi salary payments. The implication is that the attacks may serve as calibrated political pressure rather than a full-scale escalation.
Additionally, the Houthis may be wary of provoking renewed American military strikes. U.S. operations in 2024 and 2025 inflicted significant damage on Houthi-controlled coastal areas in Yemen during efforts to protect Red Sea shipping routes.
For now, analysts describe the Houthis’ involvement as symbolic but strategically cautious — signaling alignment with Iran while carefully avoiding actions that could trigger overwhelming retaliation or destabilize their regional financial arrangements.
Source Breitbart
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