The Houthi rebels of Yemen have asserted responsibility for the assaults on Israel.

Yemen's Houthi rebels asserted responsibility on Tuesday for missile and drone strikes aimed at Israel, marking the first instance of such attacks. This development has effectively involved their primary supporter, Iran, in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip, thereby heightening the potential for a regional confrontation. Previously, the Houthis were suspected of launching an assault on Israel by deploying missiles and drones across the strategically significant Red Sea shipping route. Consequently, the U.S. Navy intercepted and neutralized the projectiles.

On Tuesday, Israel successfully intercepted two waves of incoming fire near its vital Red Sea shipping port of Eilat using its own fighter jets and the newly deployed Arrow missile defense system. The Houthis, who have controlled Yemen's capital, Sana'a, since 2014, claimed responsibility for three attacks on Israel in a subsequent military statement. However, they did not provide details regarding the timing of these operations or whether the salvos on Tuesday represented one or two separate attacks.

In addition to the missile interception, there was a mysterious explosion on Thursday in the Egyptian resort town of Taba, close to the Israeli border. Egyptian authorities have not yet provided an explanation for the blast, which resulted in six injuries.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree stated in a televised address that their armed forces had launched a significant number of ballistic missiles and drones at various Israeli targets. He emphasized that this operation was the third in support of their oppressed brethren in Palestine and vowed to continue carrying out more precise strikes until Israeli aggression ceases.

For Israel, Tuesday's attack showcased an exceptionally rare instance of the Arrow missile defense system being utilized in combat. This system is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles while they are in space, with the intention of neutralizing the threat, as explained by the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies.

The Israeli military reported that all aerial threats were intercepted outside of Israeli territory and no infiltrations were identified. However, the missile fire triggered an air raid siren alarm in Eilat, causing people to flee into shelters. The specific weapons used in the attack were not identified, but the use of an arrow suggests it was a ballistic missile. The Houthis have a variant of the Burkan ballistic missile, modeled after an Iranian missile, which is believed to be able to reach over 1,000 kilometers. The incoming fire occurred as the USS Bataan and other U.S. vessels were likely in the Red Sea. The Pentagon's press secretary acknowledged the Houthi fire targeting Israel, suggesting the rebels had missiles able to reach some 2,000 kilometers. Saudi Arabia did not respond to questions, but the kingdom saw four of its soldiers killed in recent days in fighting with the Houthis.

The conflict in Yemen has been further complicated by the involvement of Iran, who has been a long-time sponsor of the Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah. These groups have been engaged in deadly cross-border attacks with Israel, and Iranian-allied militia groups have also targeted U.S. troops in drone attacks. The Houthis, who follow the Shiite Zaydi faith, have gained significant military power with the assistance of Iran, particularly through the advancement of their missile program. This poses a greater risk to Israel's air defenses, as it could potentially be overwhelmed by massive missile barrages from Hezbollah, Hamas, and other groups. Despite Iran's denial, evidence suggests that they have been arming the Houthis through sea routes, in violation of a U.N. arms embargo.

In 2019, an attack on Saudi Arabia's oil industry in Abqaiq was claimed by the Houthis, but suspicion later fell on Iran. The attack, carried out by cruise missiles and drones, caused a temporary halving of the kingdom's production and a spike in global energy prices. While the Houthis claimed responsibility, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and analysts blamed Iran. U.N. experts also deemed it unlikely that the Houthis carried out the assault, although Tehran denied involvement. The Iranian mission to the U.N. warned that allied militias like the Houthis could expand their operations against Israel, citing concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza and calling on the American administration to halt the transgressions of the Israeli regime.