Houthi attack on Israel raises fears for Red Sea shipping

Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen fired missiles at Israel on Saturday, marking their first attack since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict a month ago. The Israeli military confirmed it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, raising concerns that Tehran’s proxies may once again attempt to disrupt crucial global shipping routes.

“We are preparing for a multifront war,” stated Israeli military spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin when questioned about the Houthi threat.

The Houthis, who control Yemen’s capital Sanaa and much of the country’s northern regions, are a vital component of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” which includes militant organizations across Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestinian territories. Since 2014, they have been engaged in a civil war against Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which receives backing from a Saudi-led coalition.

Unlike other Iranian allies such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah and various Iraqi militant groups, the Houthis had refrained from entering the conflict in the month following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. This restraint appears to have ended with Saturday’s missile attack.

The Houthi involvement raises significant concerns about potential disruptions to maritime traffic through the Red Sea, a critical global shipping corridor. Such actions would further strain the global economy, already reeling from the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz—another vital maritime passage now under Iranian control.

“Our fingers are on the trigger,” warned Brigadier General Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, in a statement released Friday. The group has explicitly stated they will not permit the United States and Israel to use the Red Sea for launching attacks against Iran.

The economic implications of renewed Houthi attacks on shipping could be severe, according to experts. Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, cautioned that such actions would not only drive up oil prices but would destabilize “all of maritime security,” with impacts extending well beyond the energy market.

The strategic importance of this region cannot be overstated. Since the Strait of Hormuz closure, Saudi Arabia has been rerouting millions of barrels of crude oil daily through Bab el-Mandeb, the narrow strait at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. This 20-mile-wide passage serves as a critical chokepoint for global oil trade, with approximately one-fourth of global container traffic transiting through it en route to or from the Suez Canal.

Any disruption to these shipping lanes would force vessels to navigate around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, dramatically increasing shipping costs and delivery times—a scenario that played out in 2024 and 2025, significantly impacting global supply chains and consumer prices.

“It would be devastating for so many countries,” Nagi emphasized. “If we see more pressure on the Iranians, or there’s any escalation, the Houthis will jump in harshly.”

The situation poses a particular threat to European energy security. The European Union heavily depends on imported natural gas for industrial operations, electricity generation, and residential heating. Liquefied natural gas tankers regularly transit through the Red Sea, making any disruption particularly problematic for European energy supplies.

The Houthis have demonstrated both capability and willingness to target maritime vessels. Between November 2023 and January 2025, they conducted attacks on over 100 merchant ships using missiles and drones, resulting in the sinking of two vessels and the deaths of four sailors. These attacks were reportedly conducted in solidarity with Hamas during the Gaza conflict.

In response to previous Houthi aggression, the United States and Israel launched a series of airstrikes across Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, resulting in significant casualties, including most of the Houthi-allied Cabinet in Sanaa. The strikes ended when President Donald Trump halted U.S. military action following an agreement that saw the rebels cease their attacks on Red Sea shipping.

The latest missile launch signals a potential return to hostilities that could have far-reaching consequences for global trade, energy markets, and regional stability in an already volatile Middle East.