Yemen’s Houthis entered the Middle East conflict on 28 March, exactly one month into the war, when the group fired missiles and drones at Israel. Capturing the spirit of Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance,’ military spokesman Yahya Saree said the attack was a fulfilment of “their religious, moral, and humanitarian duties” and that they would carry out further military operations until the US and Israel end their aggression against Iran.
All the attacks were successfully intercepted by Israel, but their symbolic impact detonated across the world. Their entry into the war revived fears that they might restart their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea at a time when the waterway is now the only outlet for Saudi crude oil and refined products (MEES, 3 April). Senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said the group maintains the option to close the Bab al-Mandeb strait. (CONTINUED - 917 WORDS)
