Group frames attack as first phase of intervention, warning against further operations targeting Iran and allies

Yemen’s Houthi movement signaled a potential widening of the regional conflict after launching a missile toward southern Israel, following earlier warnings of military intervention tied to developments involving Iran.

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In a televised address, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group had “its hands on the trigger” and was prepared to act under specific conditions. “We will not allow it,” he stated, referring to the possibility of new countries joining what he described as a United States and Israel offensive against Iran, or the use of the Red Sea for hostile military operations.

The Yemeni Armed Forces called for “the immediate response of the American and Israeli enemy to international diplomatic efforts to stop the aggression against Iran and the countries of the Axis,” describing it as “an unjust, oppressive and unprovoked aggression that harms global and regional stability and security, and damages the global economy.”

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Sarea said intervention would be triggered by “the arrival of any new alliance with the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran” and by the use of the Red Sea for military attacks. He added that the warning aimed to deter both the expansion and prolongation of the conflict against Iran and allied groups.

Hours later, the Israeli Defense Forces reported detecting a missile launched from Yemen toward its territory, marking the first such attack since the start of joint US-Israeli operations against Iran. “Air defense systems are operating to intercept the threat,” the military said, urging the population to follow official instructions. Authorities later confirmed that residents could leave protected areas.

The missile, which was heading toward the Negev region in southern Israel, was intercepted, according to Israeli authorities. The Houthi movement confirmed the launch, describing it as the first phase of a broader intervention in support of Tehran and its regional allies.

Sarea said the strike targeted “sensitive military targets” and was coordinated with ongoing operations by Iran and Hezbollah. He stated that the attack “achieved its objectives” and warned that further strikes would follow “until the aggression against all fronts of resistance stops.”

The Red Sea, a critical route for global trade, has seen increased tensions since Houthi forces began targeting vessels linked to Israel. Any disruption, particularly at the Bab al-Mandeb strait, could have significant consequences for international commerce, already affected by instability in the Strait of Hormuz.

Sarea also called for an immediate halt to attacks on Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and Iraq, and urged compliance with agreements related to the war in Gaza. “We affirm that our military operations only target the Israeli and American enemy to thwart the Zionist plan and do not target any Muslim people,” he said.

The developments point to a potential geographic expansion of the conflict, one month after the start of bombardments against Iran.

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