Houthis launch first ballistic missile strike on Israeli targets

ALBAWABA - The Houthis said on Saturday that they had used ballistic missiles in their first military action, attacking what they claimed were important Israeli military sites in southern Israel.

According to the organization, the strike was meant to demonstrate solidarity for Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine in the face of current violence and was part of a larger response to ongoing regional escalation.

A Segment of Greater Escalation

The Houthis claim that Hezbollah and Iran were conducting military operations in Lebanon at the same time as the strike. They said that the strike had succeeded in achieving its goals and threatened to carry out more actions until their objectives were fulfilled.

The discovery coincides with a growing regional crisis that started in late February after Israel and the United States launched massive airstrikes on Iranian sites, killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other high-ranking officials.

BREAKING: Yemen's Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group has carried out its first military attack against Israel. pic.twitter.com/N8cbNVu6aq

— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) March 28, 2026

Regional Repercussions

In response, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz and launched missile and drone assaults throughout the area, which increased the cost of energy globally.

Later, the fighting moved to Lebanon, as Hezbollah attacked Israel over its borders. This led to Israeli airstrikes and a small-scale ground invasion in southern Lebanon.