Yemen’s Houthis, backed by Iran, escalate threats against US and Israel with missile strikes as tensions rise over Tehran’s nuclear activities and regional military maneuvers.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels, widely seen as an extension of Iran’s “axis of resistance,” renewed threats to target US vessels if Washington supported Israel in a potential conflict with Tehran. The warning on June 21 came as the group vowed retaliation after US airstrikes hit Iran’s nuclear sites following a ceasefire in the Iran-Israel war. Reports suggest Iran has been relocating military equipment through Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen.
The Houthis have already launched attacks against Israel, a key US ally. The group claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile strike on Bisha, a southern Israeli city, though the Israeli military stated it intercepted the projectiles. Last week, the rebels intensified operations under the banner of the “battle of promised conquest and sacred jihad,” targeting sites in Beersheba, Jaffa, Tel Aviv, and Haifa with drones and ballistic missiles. The Houthis declared all strikes successful.
During the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict, Iranian attacks severely damaged Soroka Hospital in Bashiba, injuring dozens and wrecking multiple wards. Yemeni officials accuse Tehran of exploiting the country as a missile base for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Information Minister Muhammad al-Ariani alleged Iran is shifting military production—including drones and missiles—to Houthi-held regions like Sada, Haja, and Sana’a amid international pressure to curb its nuclear program.
The allegations surfaced as Iran’s UN ambassador, Amir Sedani, signaled openness to a nuclear deal involving the transfer of highly enriched uranium abroad in exchange for yellowcake, a nuclear fuel precursor. The proposal, reported by Al-Monitor, highlights Tehran’s balancing act between diplomacy and regional escalation.