Yemen’s Houthis escalate attacks on Israel as they are drawn into Iran war – with vital

Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for a second attack, which was launched on southern Israel earlier today.

A Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson said the group conducted ‘a barrage of cruise missiles and drones’ targeting ‘several vital [Israeli] military sites.

The spokesperson added that the airstrikes ‘coincided’ with Hezbollah and Iran’s military operations and ‘successfully achieved its objectives’.

The Houthi rebels in Yemen could cause further turmoil to global shipping by effectively closing the Suez Canal, experts have warned.

The terror group, backed by Iran, entered the war between Tehran and the US and Israel overnight with a missile attack towards Tel Aviv.

It is feared the militia could make a return to striking ships after attacking multiple vessels in the Red Sea during the war in Gaza.

An obvious target would be the Bab al-Mandab Strait off the coast of Yemen, a key choke point for sea traffic towards the ​Suez Canal.

Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said today the Houthis have ‘significant power’. He added:

If they decided to move to shut down Bab al-Mandeb strait, the Red Sea and, ultimately, the Suez Canal, then we would have two major choke points [closed] along with the Strait of Hormuz.

These are major international shipping waterways for international trade, so I think it can be very significant from that standpoint.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have entered the conflict in the Middle East and launched a missile attack on Israel.

The terror group’s strike raises the prospects of a broader regional confrontation, as well as an increased threat to shipping in the region.

The group said the attack with a barrage of missiles came after continued targeting of infrastructure in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories, adding that their operations would continue until the ‘aggression’ on all fronts ends.

On Friday, Brig Gen Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, said the rebels could join the war on behalf of Iran if attacks on the country did not cease.

‘We affirm that our fingers are on the trigger for direct military intervention in any of the following cases,’ Saree said. They included the ‘continuation of the escalation against the Islamic Republic and the Axis of Jihad and Resistance, as dictated by the theatre of military operations.’

The group has now said it will remain in the conflict until all its goals are met.

There are fears that the move could see wider attacks on shipping in the region and even the closure of the Red Sea, in addition to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis previously launched strikes against vessels in the Red Sea during the height of Israel’s war in Gaza.

The Israeli military announced the death of a 22-year-old soldier in combat in south Lebanon.

‘During the incident in which Sergeant Moshe Yitzchak HaCohen Katz fell, three IDF soldiers were moderately injured,’ the IDF announced on Telegram.

Katz, 22, was from New Haven, Connecticut of the 890th battalion, Paratroppers Bridage, according to the Israeli military’s announcement.

‘The soldiers were evacuated to receive medical treatment at the hospital, and their families have been notified.’

The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense announced that its Air Defenses had activated amid Iranian missile attacks.

‘UAE Air Defenses system are actively engaging with missiles and [Unmanned Aerial Vehicle] threats,’ the ministry said in a release on X.

The ministry of defense said that any ‘sounds heard across the country are the result of ongoing engaging operations of missiles and UAV’s.’

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan Ishaq Dar announced that the Government of Iran would allow 20 additional ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

‘I am pleased to share a great news that the Government of Iran has agreed to allow 20 more ships under the Pakistani flag to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,’ Dar wrote on X.

The announcement declared that two ships would be allowed to pass through daily.

‘This is a welcome and constructive gesture by Iran and deserves appreciation. It is a harbinger of peace and will help usher stability in the region,’ Dar added.

‘This positive announcement marks a meaningful step toward peace and will strengthen our collective efforts in that direction. Dialogue, diplomacy, and such confidence-building measures are the only way forward.’

Aluminium Bahrain, or Alba, confirmed two employees were left with minor injuries after an Iranian attack, Bahrain’s state news agency reported.

The company added that along with the two injuries, it would be assessing the damage to the facilities, Reuters reported.

‘The safety and security of [Alba’s] people remain its top priority and the Company confirms that two of Alba’s employees sustained minor injuries,’ the company said in a statement to Bahrain’s state news agency.

The confirmation follows Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s announced an attack on Alba and Emirates Global Aluminium after two Iranian steel plants were targeted.

Emirates Global Aluminium said on Saturday that its Al Taweelah site in Abu Dhabi suffered significant damage following an Iranian missile and drone attack, the New York Times reported.

The attack saw several employees injured, with none sustaining any serious injuries.

Israel declared on social media that it had activated air defenses against Iranian missiles detected, with alerts sent to those in affected areas.

‘A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel,’ the Israel Defense Forces wrote on Telegram.

‘Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command has sent a precautionary direction directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas.’

The announcement requested that the public adhere to instructions and to ‘act responsibly.’

‘Upon receiving an alert, the public is instructed to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice.’

Moments later, a follow up announced that it would be ‘permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas of the country.’

Kuwaiti’s military have said that its air defenses are ‘currently responding to hostile missile and drone threats’ in a post on X.

‘The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces confirms that any explosions that may be heard are the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile targets,’ the post read.

The post urged the public to follow safety and security instructions issued by officials.

By Abul Taher Security Correspondent

As many as 70 Britons have been locked up in the United Arab Emirates for taking photos and videos of drone and missile attacks, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Tourists, expats and cabin crew have been detained in overcrowded police cells and prisons – and in some cases denied sleep, food and medicine – as they fall foul of draconian laws that purport to protect ‘national security and stability’.

However, oil-rich city-states such as Dubai have been accused of a heavy-handed clampdown that aims to protect their ‘carefully constructed brand’ as safe and glamorous travel destinations.

In some cases, they were made to sign statements in Arabic they did not understand, it is claimed.

Access by British consular staff is understood to be ‘restricted or outright denied’.

The Foreign Office is not automatically alerted to all cases, and some of those arrested have been advised not to contact the British Embassy for fear it could prolong their cases.

Officials believe just five British detainees are receiving consular help for taking pictures.

Last night, Radha Stirling of the Detained In Dubai group said: ‘British citizens are being held in overcrowded conditions, denied medication, and pressured to sign confessions without legal representation.

‘This is a serious failure of protection. Immediate and robust diplomatic intervention is required to safeguard their welfare and secure their release.

‘These are not criminals, but ordinary tourists, workers and residents who acted without malicious intent.’

Among the detained Britons is a London-based air steward for the budget airline FlyDubai.

Loud noises were heard in Dubai yesterday evening, however, officials have since confirmed that the noise was the interception of airstrikes.

It comes after social media users reported hearing several ‘blasts’ online.

In a statement, the Dubai Media Office said:

Authorities in Dubai confirm that the sounds heard across parts of the city were the result of successful air defence interception operations.

Please rely on official sources for updates.’

Iran has repeatedly attacked the United Arab Emirates since the war began due to its military ties with the United States.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets across several major cities in the US in protest of Trump and his decisions, including the conflict in Iran.

Those behind the ‘No Kings’ rallies hope it will be the largest single day protest in the country’s history.

There are over 3,200 events scheduled across 50 states.