Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis launch missile at Israel for first time since war began

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis launch a missile strike on Israel for first time since the war began - here's the latest.

The group says it fired a barrage of ballistic missiles "targeting sensitive Israeli military sites", after Israel says it intercepted a missile from Yemen - who are the Houthis?

The intervention of the Houthis now raises the prospect of an expanded war, writes our Middle East bureau chief.

Elsewhere, missile strikes have been launched at the Iranian capital Tehran overnight, as the country's internet blackout enters its fourth week.

"Our home is gone": The BBC's Hugo Bachega speaks to displaced families in Lebanon, as Israel launches an attack on "dozens of targets" in the country's south.

In the Gulf, Saudi Arabia says it intercepted a ballistic missile heading towards Riyadh, as Kuwait media reports the International Airport suffered "limited damage" from a drone attack.

Houthis launch strike on Israel as Iran war enters second month - a recap

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have launched a missile at Israel for the first time in the month-long war.

Houthis enter conflict: The Iran-backed rebel group launched a missile strike on Israel from Yemen, a day after they warned of intervention if attacks on Iran continued. Israel said it intercepted the missile.

Who are the Houthis? They are an armed political and religious group which champions Yemen's Shia Muslim minority, the Zaidis. They have controlled much of north west Yemen since 2014, when they ousted the internationally-recognised government from the capital, Sanaa.

The intervention of the Houthis now raises the prospect of an expanded war, writes our Middle East bureau chief in Jerusalem.

Across the Middle East

• Sources in Iran told the BBC heavy strikes hit the capital Tehran overnight, as the country's internet blackout has entered its fourth week
• Several towns across southern Lebanon were hit by Israeli strikes overnight, the BBC's Hugo Bachega spoke to displaced families there
• Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a ballistic missile heading towards Riyadh, and Kuwait media reported the country's international airport sustained "limited damage" in a drone strike

Economic impacts of the war continue to be felt. Shares in all three major US indexes sank again on Friday, capping the fourth week of losses since the war began.

Resumption of Houthi attacks will be a headache for Israel

Houthi missile attacks on Israel, which began in mid-October 2023, following the outbreak of the Gaza war, did very little damage. The attacks were sporadic and most missiles were intercepted.

However, in July 2024, an Israeli civilian was killed when a Houthi drone evaded Israeli air defences and struck a residential building in Tel Aviv.

The resumption of attacks will be an additional headache for Israel, but is unlikely to pose a significant challenge.

However, if the Houthis decide to start attacking Red Sea shipping, the effects could be dramatic.

Saudi Arabia is currently diverting around 4 million barrels of oil through a pipeline to Yanbu, on the Red Sea coast, in order to avoid the Strait of Hormuz.

Shipments bound for the Asian market then sail south, past Yemen.

From November 2023 to early 2025, the Houthis launched almost 200 attacks on ships in the Red Sea, damaging over 30 ships and hijacking at least one.

Traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait (at the southern end of the Red Sea) and Suez Canal (at the northern end) dropped by around 50% - not as great as the impact of Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but hugely damaging.

If this happens again, the simultaneous closure of both vital waterways could be disastrous.