The Israeli military said on Tuesday that it had thwarted an aerial attack by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, as fears rise across the region that the Israel-Hamas war could widen. The military said it used the “Arrow” aerial defense system for the first time since the October 7 outbreak of the war with Hamas to intercept two cruise missiles in the Red Sea fired towards its territory. The missiles were intercepted by Israeli fighter jets over the Red Sea, according to a military statement. The incident triggered air raid sirens in the popular Red Sea tourist resort of Eilat and sent residents running for shelter. “There was no threat or risk to civilians,” the military said.
The Houthi rebels, who control most of northern Yemen and are fighting a Saudi-led coalition, claimed responsibility for what they said were drone attacks against Israel on Tuesday, in response to the war in Gaza. Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Houthi’s military, said the operation was the third targeting Israel and threatened to carry out more strikes “until the Israeli aggression stops.” He said the Houthis launched a “large number” of ballistic missiles and drones towards southern Israel, without providing any evidence or details.
Israel Accuses Iran of Supporting Houthis
Israel has accused Iran of providing weapons and training to the Houthis, who have been fighting a war against the internationally recognized government of Yemen since 2014. Iran denies having any role in the Houthi attacks. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Iran-backed Houthis launched drones and missiles “with the intention of harming Israel”. The ministry said the attacks were “a clear example of Iran’s dangerous and destabilizing behavior in the region.”
Israel has also blamed Iran for supporting Hamas, the group that runs the Gaza Strip, and Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group that has been involved in increasingly heavy exchanges of cross-border fire with Israel. Iran denies having any role in the Hamas attack that sparked the current war on October 7. Since then, Israel has expanded its air and ground attacks on Gaza, which has been under relentless bombardment for more than three weeks. More than 2,000 Palestinians have been killed, including hundreds of children, and tens of thousands have been displaced. Israel says it is targeting Hamas militants and infrastructure, and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields. Twelve people have been killed in Israel by rocket fire from Gaza, including two children.
Regional Tensions Rise Amid Gaza War
The Houthi attacks on Israel come amid rising regional tensions over the Gaza war, which has drawn international condemnation and calls for a ceasefire. Several countries have expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and denounced Israel’s actions as disproportionate and indiscriminate. Some have also cut or suspended diplomatic ties with Israel, such as Bolivia, Venezuela, Turkey, and Pakistan.
On Monday, Egypt hosted a meeting of foreign ministers from Arab countries to discuss ways to end the violence and support the Palestinian cause. The ministers called for an immediate halt to Israeli attacks on Gaza and urged the UN Security Council to take action to protect civilians and uphold international law. They also reaffirmed their support for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, the US has been trying to broker a truce between Israel and Hamas, but has faced criticism for blocking several attempts by the UN Security Council to issue a joint statement calling for a ceasefire. The US says it is working behind the scenes to de-escalate the situation and facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza. President Joe Biden has expressed support for Israel’s right to self-defense, but has also urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek a path towards a lasting peace.
