Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels launched ballistic missiles at central Israel, targeting Jaffa and beyond, in coordinated attacks alongside Iranian strikes, signaling an escalatory opening of a second front in the ongoing Israel–Iran conflict.
At a Glance
- The Houthis fired several ballistic missiles at central Israel’s Jaffa region within the past 24 hours
- Houthi military spokesperson Yehya Sarea confirmed the operation was coordinated with Iranian armed forces
- Sirens blared as Israeli forces scrambled air defenses in multiple areas
- These launches coincide with renewed missile exchanges after Israel’s large-scale strikes on Iran earlier this week
- The attacks mark a widening of the conflict, with regional proxy groups like the Houthis now opening new battlefronts
A Coordinated Strike
Houthi spokesperson Yehya Sarea declared that Yemen’s missile attacks on the Jaffa area were carried out “in cooperation with Iranian forces,” in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iranian targets earlier this week. As Reuters reports, this marked one of the most direct joint offensives by Iran and its regional allies. The Times of Israel confirmed that air raid sirens and Iron Dome activations were reported across central Israel, with no initial reports of casualties.
Conflict Deepens and Spreads
These strikes follow Israel’s unprecedented air campaign that targeted Iranian missile development sites and command centers. According to Al Jazeera, the IDF’s response has been both aerial and cyber-based. Now, with Yemen’s Houthis openly engaging Israel for the first time, Tehran is effectively stretching Israeli defenses across three fronts: Iran, Gaza–Lebanon, and Yemen.
Proxy War Enters New Phase
Iran’s regional network—the so-called “Axis of Resistance”—has often relied on symbolic gestures, but this missile barrage from Yemen signals a shift to kinetic escalation. As The Guardian notes, the Houthis’ missile capability has expanded dramatically due to Iranian support, enabling longer-range attacks. While no direct hits were confirmed, the act itself underscores Tehran’s deepening military alliances and complicates Israel’s containment strategies.
Implications for Regional Stability
This new axis of engagement—with the Houthis actively targeting Israeli civilians—raises concerns about a broader Middle East war. In response, Israeli fighter jets reportedly struck Houthi infrastructure near Sanaa, marking the first direct Israel–Yemen exchange of the conflict, as reported by Haaretz.
As diplomatic efforts struggle to catch up, this expanded battlefield threatens to plunge the region into a sustained, multi-front war. For now, Israel must prepare for simultaneous operations against both sovereign adversaries and well-armed proxies.
