Houthi Missile Attack on Eilat Escalates Regional Conflict
Israel announced that its air defence system intercepted a surface-to-surface missile launched from Yemen on Sunday.
The Iranian-backed Houthi movement claimed responsibility for firing several missiles at the Israeli city of Eilat from the Red Sea, according to Reuters. Additionally, medical sources cited by Reuters reported that six people were killed and 80 others were injured following an Israeli airstrike on Al Hudaydah on Saturday.
The attack follows an escalation of violence between Israel and the Houthis, which began on Friday when the Yemeni group launched a drone that struck the centre of Tel Aviv, killing one man and injuring four others.
Israeli warplanes conducted an air raid on Saturday near the Al Hudaydah port in Yemen, targeting what Israel identified as Houthi military positions. Yemeni medical sources reported to Reuters on Sunday that the attack resulted in six fatalities and 80 injuries, all of whom were civilians.
Images from the scene showed a large fire and dense smoke rising from the site of the attack.
The Israeli military stated that its Arrow 3 missile defence system intercepted the projectile launched from Yemen on Sunday before it could enter Israeli territory. Prior to the interception, air raid sirens were heard in Eilat, alerting residents to take cover.
Houthis Respond to Israel's Gaza Conflict
These reciprocal attacks are part of the broader escalation of the Gaza conflict, which has been ongoing for over nine months and has drawn in both regional and global powers. Iran-aligned groups, including the Houthis, have launched rockets toward Israel, claiming they are acting in support of Palestinians and the Islamist militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza. The United States and its allies continue to support Israel and provide military aid.
The conflict began on October 7 with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, according to Israeli authorities. Since then, Israel has bombarded and invaded Gaza, leading to nearly 39,000 deaths, according to health officials in the enclave.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen and other significant population centres, have previously claimed to target Israel in retaliation for Israel’s war against Gaza. The group has also targeted maritime routes in the Red Sea for months.
Hamas' allies include Iran-supported groups such as the Houthis, Hezbollah, and Iraqi paramilitaries.
Regional Context and International Reactions
The conflict in Yemen, which began in 2014, has been intensified by the intervention of the Saudi-led coalition and has evolved into a multi-front war involving Iran and Saudi Arabia, according to the Associated Press. In the context of its conflict with Hamas and confrontations with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Israel has now expanded its conflict front to include the Houthis, an Iran-supported group.
While Israel and its Western supporters, including the United States and the United Kingdom, continue to respond to Houthi attacks, Iran has condemned Israel’s actions, accusing it of worsening the situation and causing severe harm to the civilian population in Yemen, according to CNN.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
