Since October 2023, Houthi missile attacks on Israel have not caused much damage since the start of the Gaza war. Because these attacks were sporadic and most of the missiles were intercepted midway.
But after a few months, the situation changed in July 2024. A civilian was killed when a Houthi drone dodged Israeli air defense systems and hit a residential building in Tel Aviv.
Yemen’s Houthi resumption of attacks on Israel will cause additional headaches for the country; However, it is unlikely to pose a major military challenge. But if the Houthis decide to launch a new attack targeting shipping in the Red Sea, the impact will be dramatic.
Currently, Saudi Arabia is sending about 4 million barrels of oil per day through a pipeline through the port of Yanbu on the Red Sea coast to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. The oil ships sent to the Asian market advanced southwards past Yemen.
From November 2023 to early 2025, the Houthis carried out about 200 attacks on ships plying the Red Sea. More than 30 ships were damaged. Apart from this, at least one ship has been hijacked. As a result, shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal was reduced by about 50 percent.
If Iran virtually closes the Strait of Hormuz and at the same time the Houthis block the Red Sea route, the simultaneous closure of two important waterways could be disastrous for world trade. Source: BBC
