An Israeli air defense system intercepts projectiles over the West Bank city of Nablus, on Saturday. Israel said it detected missiles launched from both Iran and Yemen. Photo by Alaa Badarneh/EPA
The Iranian-backed Houthis launched missile strikes toward Israel on Saturday, marking Yemen’s first foray into the wider Middle East conflict involving Iran.
The Houthi political and military group in Yemen confirmed it launched the ballistic missiles in response to Israeli strikes a day earlier in key infrastructure sites in Iran, The Guardian reported. Friday’s strikes hit two of Iran’s largest steel factories, a power plant, civilian nuclear sites and other locations.
Israel also confirmed it detected an incoming missile launched from Yemen, CNN reported.
The Houthis said the strikes on Israel would take place until the end of what it described as “aggression.”
“The Yemeni armed forces, with the help of Allah almighty and relying upon Allah, have carried out the first military operation using a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting sensitive Israeli military sites in southern occupied Palestine,” a Houthi statement said.
Israel and the United States began strikes on Iranian sites exactly one month ago, Feb. 28. The attacks were meant to put pressure on Iran to limit its nuclear program. U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the extension of a 10-day pause on strikes targeting Iran’s energy sites as the sides come to possible terms for negotiations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday accused Israel of contradicting Trump’s 10-day pause with its attacks on key infrastructure.
“Israel claims it acted in coordination with the U.S.,” Araghchi wrote in a post on X.
The “attack contradicts POTUS extended deadline for diplomacy,” Araghchi wrote.
“Iran will exact HEAVY price for Israeli crimes.”
Over the past month, the conflict has broadened to include other Gulf nations. The Houthis’ entry into the war threatens and even broader war.
Kuwait reported drone strikes on an airport there, damaging radar Saturday. Oman also had attacks at the port of Salalah. Officials in Abu Dhabi said falling debris from the interception of a missile injured six people.
Meanwhile, Israel targeted multiple locations in southern Lebanon with airstrikes, and Hezbollah responded with its own attacks on Israel.
Since the start of the war, at least 1,900 Iranians have been killed, Iran’s Red Crescent organization said Friday. Among those were more than 200 children. Other death tolls include at least 1,142 in Lebanon, nearly 100 in Iraq, 19 in Israel and 13 in the United States.
An Iranian attack on a Saudi air base where U.S. personnel were stationed Friday injured 10 U.S. service members.
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An Iranian man raises a portrait of new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei during a rally on Revolution Street in Tehran on March 9, 2026. Photo by Hossein Esmaeili/UPI | License Photo
