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Houthis

The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, are a Zaydi Shia Islamist movement and militant group in Yemen. As a key component of the Iranian-led 'Axis of Resistance,' they have increasingly projected power beyond Yemen's borders, utilizing ballistic missiles and drones to target international shipping and Israeli territory.

The Zioneer Intelligence Desk
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The Houthi movement emerged from northern Yemen in the 1990s and seized the capital, Sana'a, in 2014, sparking a protracted civil war. While their origins are rooted in local religious and political grievances, the movement has evolved into a strategic proxy for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This partnership provides the Houthis with advanced military technology, including long-range ballistic missiles and loitering munitions, which they have deployed with increasing frequency against regional adversaries. For Israel, the Houthi threat represents a significant expansion of the southern front. The group has repeatedly attempted to strike Israeli targets, most notably the southern port city of Eilat and central Israel, and has disrupted global trade by attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea. These actions are framed by the group as 'solidarity' with Palestinian terror organizations, but they serve the broader Iranian objective of encircling Israel with a 'ring of fire.' In June 2026, on the background of direct kinetic warfare between Israel and Iran, the Houthis significantly escalated their involvement. The group declared a renewed 'naval blockade,' stating that all Israeli vessels would be considered legitimate military targets. During this period, the Houthis launched ballistic missiles toward central Israel, Jaffa, and Jerusalem, most of which were successfully intercepted by the Arrow and Iron Dome systems. Furthermore, reports emerged of Houthi threats to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical global shipping corridor, should Israeli strikes continue. The IDF has signaled it is preparing for large-scale retaliatory strikes on Houthi infrastructure in Yemen as part of the broader 'Operation Roaring Lion.'

03 · Related Coverage

Full Reports

  • CENTCOM Concludes Offensive Strikes Near Strait of Hormuz; Iran Asserts Retaliatory Hits on U.S. Regional Bases

    U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) officially declared the conclusion of its overnight offensive operation against Iranian military infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday morning. The mission, authorized by President Donald Trump, targeted Iranian air defense systems, radar sites, and ground control stations in a proportional response to the downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter. In the hours following the American strikes, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and state-linked media claimed to have launched a widespread retaliatory wave of missiles and drones, allegedly striking the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain and the Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan.

  • Trump says US response to downed helicopter is 'very strong, very powerful' as strikes continue

    President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday that the United States is conducting a "very strong, very powerful" military response against Iranian assets following the downing of a U.S. AH-64 Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking to ABC News, the President stated that the U.S. "must respond" and that operations are occurring "as we speak," marking a significant escalation in the direct kinetic confrontation between Washington and Tehran.

  • Houthis Claim Missile Strikes on Israel and Saudi Airbase, Release Footage

    The Ansar Allah movement, commonly known as the Houthis, released footage on Monday purportedly showing the launch of 'Hatem-2' ballistic missiles targeting both Israel and the Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia. While the group claims the strikes were successful, there has been no independent verification of impacts or interceptions from Israeli or Saudi authorities as of Monday afternoon.

  • Iran Reportedly Closes Strait of Hormuz as IDF Braces for Multi-Day Conflict

    Iranian state media reported the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, a significant escalation in the regional conflict as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) signaled preparations for a multi-day campaign against the Iranian regime and its proxies. The IDF, briefing military correspondents, characterized the current operations as a direct continuation of Operation Roaring Lion, with active American assistance in intercepting incoming aerial threats.

  • Security Cabinet Convened After Renewed Iranian Missile Barrage; No Casualties Reported

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has summoned the limited security cabinet for an emergency session at 11:00 AM following a renewed barrage of rocket and missile fire directed at Israel early Monday morning. While sirens sounded across a vast geographic area—including Jerusalem, the Dan region, and the Negev—the Home Front Command has since issued an all-clear, and no direct casualties from the impacts have been reported.

  • IDF Lifts Sheltering Restrictions Nationwide Following Iranian Missile Salvo

    The IDF Home Front Command announced early Monday morning that residents across Israel are permitted to leave protected spaces following a comprehensive situational assessment. The directive follows a significant barrage of missiles launched from Iran and Yemen that triggered widespread sirens throughout central Israel, Jerusalem, and the Judean foothills.

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