Overview

• Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile targeting northern Israel, triggering sirens in Haifa and nearby regions; Israeli forces claim to have intercepted the missile.
• The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the missile strike, stating it was in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and part of their broader resistance against Israel.
• This missile attack follows the downing of a US MQ-9 Reaper drone by Houthi forces earlier this week, highlighting the group’s growing air-defense capabilities.
• The US military has conducted near-daily airstrikes since March 15, striking hundreds of Houthi targets, including infrastructure and leadership hubs, with over 200 reported deaths.
• The conflict has severely impacted Red Sea shipping, a critical global trade route, and exacerbated civilian casualties and infrastructure damage in Yemen.