The escalating tensions in the Middle East have taken a new turn as the Houthi movement, backed by the Iranian regime, launched two missiles targeting Israel on Saturday. This incident has effectively opened a third front for Israel, which is already engaged in conflicts with other Iranian allies, namely Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile attack, stating that their targets were “sensitive Israeli military sites” and that they employed a “barrage of ballistic missiles.” In response, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported successfully intercepting both a cruise missile and a ballistic missile that were fired by the Houthis that morning, according to YNET.

Nadwa Al-Dawsari, a Yemen expert and associate fellow at the Middle East Institute, emphasized to Fox News Digital that the current situation is critical for the survival of the Iranian regime. She explained that the involvement of the Houthis and other allies in the conflict is orchestrated by the IRGC-run Axis of Resistance Operations Room. Al-Dawsari noted, “The Houthis have shown resilience against heavy U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. For both Iran and the Houthis, the definition of ‘winning’ is surviving rather than achieving a decisive victory.”

In a recent demonstration of their stance, Houthi militants were seen walking over British and U.S. flags during a rally supporting Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. This event, occurring on February 4, 2024, also highlighted the Houthis’ recent attacks on shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as captured in a photograph by Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images.

Al-Dawsari further explained that the Houthis’ strategy involves prolonging the conflict and increasing its cost. Their strategic position allows them to disrupt vital maritime routes and create additional pressure points. She warned that if tensions continue to rise, the Houthis may resume their attacks in the Red Sea and potentially extend their operations toward the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

“The strategy is to prolong the conflict and raise the cost. The Houthis are uniquely positioned to do that, given their ability to disrupt critical maritime routes and open additional pressure fronts. If escalation continues, they will likely resume Red Sea attacks and could expand pressure toward KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia].”

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Houthis were engaged in a war before the Biden administration reportedly forced the Saudi government to stop its military strikes on the Houthis. Biden had also delisted the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization only for the Trump administration to swiftly reimpose the terror designation on the Houthis in the early days of his second term.

Salman Al-Ansari, a Saudi geopolitical analyst, told Fox News Digital, “The Houthis appear to be acting under heavy pressure from Tehran. Iran wanted them involved two weeks ago, and this attack looks more symbolic than strategic. It is part of Tehran’s effort to improve its position in negotiations with the U.S. by showing that it still has cards to play beyond Hormuz.

Thousands of people gather at Sabeen Square, under the control of the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, to protest the killing of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes and to condemn the attacks on Iran, in Sanaa, Yemen, March 6, 2026.  (Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“The Houthis do not control the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but they can still disrupt shipping in the Red Sea. At the same time, they seem to view Iran as a dead horse and are cautious about betting too heavily on it.”

The Houthis are fanatically anti-American and anti-Israel. The official slogan of the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) is, “Allah is Greater. Death to America. Death to Israel. Curse on the Jews. Victory to Islam.” 

The Houthis control most of northwest Yemen. They expelled the internationally recognized government from the capital, Sanaa, in 2015.

Pro-Iran protesters display signs depicting Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei and chant slogans at a rally to condemn the U.S.-Israel aerial attacks on Iran March 1, 2026, in Sanaa, Yemen.  (Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images)

The Houthis joined Hamas in its war against Israel in mid-October 2023, after the terrorist movement in Gaza invaded Israel and murdered over 1,200 people, including more than 40 Americans. A Houthi drone killed an Israeli civilian in Tel Aviv in 2024.

Michael Szanto, an international relations expert, told Fox News Digital, “Iran has already been badly hit by the United States and Israel, and all supply routes between Iran and Yemen will be cut off by U.S. forces. This means that Yemen will lack the supply lines to maintain a sustained offensive against Israel, though it still likely has large stockpile of missiles and drones.

“The Houthis are making a major strategic mistake by once again provoking Israel, which will try to finish off the terrorist threat in Yemen. The Houthis have proven themselves to also be a menace to the Saudis, the Emiratis, the U.S. and the world.”

Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, Oct. 9, 2023.  (Amir Cohen/Reuters)

Saturday’s attack happened hours before a spokesman for the terrorist group threatened that its “fingers were on the trigger.”