Illustrative image. (The Houthis’ Military Media)
The Iran-backed Houthis (Ansar Allah) continue to carry out attacks even as the United States launches more strikes against Yemen.
Late on March 18, a missile attack targeted Israel with the Houthis claiming responsibility. In a statement, the group’s military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said that the group launched a Palestine-2 hypersonic ballast missile at Nevatim air base in the Negev desert.
The spokesman warned that they would continue to expand their range of targets in Israel in the coming hours and days unless Israel were to halt its renewed aerial campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The Israel Defense Forces said it had successfully intercepted the missile before it could reach Israel’s borders, shooting it down with the long-range Arrow defense system over Saudi Arabia. Still, the missile sent thousands running for shelter, with sirens blaring in numerous towns across southern Israel, including Beersheba and Dimona.
Overnight, more U.S. strikes targeted Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. The strikes hit the Red Sea port city of Hodeida in addition to the Al-Safra district in the northern province of Saada, the heartland of the Houthis. No casualties were reported.
From its side, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed its “continuous operations against Iran-back Houthi terrorists.”
Later on March 19, the Houthis announced that cruise missiles and drones targeted the USS Harry S. Truman carrier group in an attack that was “the fourth within 72 hours.”
“The U.S. aggression will not deter the steadfast and struggling Yemen from fulfilling its religious, moral, and humanitarian duties toward the Palestinian people,” the group’s military spokesman said in a statement.
The U.S. military began launching strikes against the Houthis on March 15 upon orders from President Donlad Trump, who said that the large-scale attack was a response to the group’s attacks on shipping.
The strikes killed 53 people and left around a hundred others wounded. CENTCOM, which is responsible for the operations of American forces in the Middle East, described the large-scale attack as the start of a large-scale operation targeting the Houthis across Yemen.
Israel will likely join the U.S. military campaign against the Houthis in response to the missile attack. However, this will not necessarily deter the Houthis, who appear to be determined to continue to launch attacks against Israeli territories and vessels linked to the country.
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