Yemen’s Houthis open fourth front in Iran war, with global implications

Key Points:

• On March 28, the Houthis, controlling about 30% of Yemen and most of its population, launched two ballistic missiles at southern Israel, both intercepted, officially joining Iran's war against the US and Israel.
• The Houthis’ missile attacks coincide with operations by Iranian and Hezbollah forces, marking the full engagement of the Iran-led regional alliance in the conflict against Israel, except for weakened Palestinian factions.
• Previously, the Houthis conducted missile and drone attacks on Israel and targeted commercial shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital global maritime route, causing a 90% decline in traffic during the Gaza War.
• With Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb route has become crucial for oil exports, especially for Saudi Arabia, and renewed Houthi attacks there could severely disrupt global oil markets and provoke strong US and Israeli military responses.
• Although the Houthis maintain some independence, their enhanced military capabilities are closely supported and supervised by Iranian IRGC personnel, making it unlikely they would refuse Iranian requests to escalate attacks, potentially opening a new front in the regional conflict.