Western trade route at risk as Houthis escalate attacks on Israel

Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for a second attack, which was launched on southern Israel earlier today.

A Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson said the group conducted ‘a barrage of cruise missiles and drones’ targeting ‘several vital [Israeli] military sites.

The spokesperson added that the airstrikes ‘coincided’ with Hezbollah and Iran’s military operations and ‘successfully achieved its objectives’.

The Houthi rebels in Yemen could cause further turmoil to global shipping by effectively closing the Suez Canal, experts have warned.

The terror group, backed by Iran, entered the war between Tehran and the US and Israel overnight with a missile attack towards Tel Aviv.

It is feared the militia could make a return to striking ships after attacking multiple vessels in the Red Sea during the war in Gaza.

An obvious target would be the Bab al-Mandab Strait off the coast of Yemen, a key choke point for sea traffic towards the ​Suez Canal.

Mohamad Elmasry, a professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, said today the Houthis have ‘significant power’. He added:

If they decided to move to shut down Bab al-Mandeb strait, the Red Sea and, ultimately, the Suez Canal, then we would have two major choke points [closed] along with the Strait of Hormuz.

These are major international shipping waterways for international trade, so I think it can be very significant from that standpoint.

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have entered the conflict in the Middle East and launched a missile attack on Israel.

The terror group’s strike raises the prospects of a broader regional confrontation, as well as an increased threat to shipping in the region.

The group said the attack with a barrage of missiles came after continued targeting of infrastructure in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories, adding that their operations would continue until the ‘aggression’ on all fronts ends.

On Friday, Brig Gen Saree, a military spokesman for the Houthis, said the rebels could join the war on behalf of Iran if attacks on the country did not cease.

‘We affirm that our fingers are on the trigger for direct military intervention in any of the following cases,’ Saree said. They included the ‘continuation of the escalation against the Islamic Republic and the Axis of Jihad and Resistance, as dictated by the theatre of military operations.’

The group has now said it will remain in the conflict until all its goals are met.

There are fears that the move could see wider attacks on shipping in the region and even the closure of the Red Sea, in addition to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthis previously launched strikes against vessels in the Red Sea during the height of Israel’s war in Gaza.

Israel declared on social media that it had activated air defenses against Iranian missiles detected, with alerts sent to those in affected areas.

‘A short while ago, the IDF identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel,’ the Israel Defense Forces wrote on Telegram.

‘Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat. In the past few minutes, the Home Front Command has sent a precautionary direction directly to mobile phones in the relevant areas.’

The announcement requested that the public adhere to instructions and to ‘act responsibly.’

‘Upon receiving an alert, the public is instructed to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice.’

Moments later, a follow up announced that it would be ‘permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas of the country.’

Kuwaiti’s military have said that its air defenses are ‘currently responding to hostile missile and drone threats’ in a post on X.

‘The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces confirms that any explosions that may be heard are the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile targets,’ the post read.

The post urged the public to follow safety and security instructions issued by officials.

By Abul Taher Security Correspondent

As many as 70 Britons have been locked up in the United Arab Emirates for taking photos and videos of drone and missile attacks, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Tourists, expats and cabin crew have been detained in overcrowded police cells and prisons – and in some cases denied sleep, food and medicine – as they fall foul of draconian laws that purport to protect ‘national security and stability’.

However, oil-rich city-states such as Dubai have been accused of a heavy-handed clampdown that aims to protect their ‘carefully constructed brand’ as safe and glamorous travel destinations.

In some cases, they were made to sign statements in Arabic they did not understand, it is claimed.

Access by British consular staff is understood to be ‘restricted or outright denied’.

The Foreign Office is not automatically alerted to all cases, and some of those arrested have been advised not to contact the British Embassy for fear it could prolong their cases.

Officials believe just five British detainees are receiving consular help for taking pictures.

Last night, Radha Stirling of the Detained In Dubai group said: ‘British citizens are being held in overcrowded conditions, denied medication, and pressured to sign confessions without legal representation.

‘This is a serious failure of protection. Immediate and robust diplomatic intervention is required to safeguard their welfare and secure their release.

‘These are not criminals, but ordinary tourists, workers and residents who acted without malicious intent.’

Among the detained Britons is a London-based air steward for the budget airline FlyDubai.

Loud noises were heard in Dubai yesterday evening, however, officials have since confirmed that the noise was the interception of airstrikes.

It comes after social media users reported hearing several ‘blasts’ online.

In a statement, the Dubai Media Office said:

Authorities in Dubai confirm that the sounds heard across parts of the city were the result of successful air defence interception operations.

Please rely on official sources for updates.’

Iran has repeatedly attacked the United Arab Emirates since the war began due to its military ties with the United States.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets across several major cities in the US in protest of Trump and his decisions, including the conflict in Iran.

Those behind the ‘No Kings’ rallies hope it will be the largest single day protest in the country’s history.

There are over 3,200 events scheduled across 50 states.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have threatened to launch attacks on US and American universities located in the Middle East.

It comes after the University of Science and Technology in Tehran was attacked.

The IRCG said the educational facilities will be legitimate targets as retaliation ‘for the Iranian universities that were attacked’

They said:

We advise all staff, faculty, and students of American universities in the region, as well as residents in their vicinity, to maintain a distance of 1km from these universities to ensure their safety.’

It comes as they gave the US a deadline to condemn the bombing of Iranian universities to avoid retaliatory attacks by 12pm local time on March 30.

French President Emmanuel Macron has taken to X in a bid to appeal for de-escalation amid worries Iraq may be pulled into the ongoing war in the Middle East.

He said via X:

I have just met with Nechirvan Barzani, President of the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

I conveyed to him my support following the unacceptable attack that targeted his residence in Dohuk this morning.

This highly concerning development adds to a surge in attacks against Iraqi institutions, such as the one that caused the deaths of six Peshmergas this week, for which I have extended my deepest condolences to President Barzani.

The sovereignty of Iraq, and of Kurdistan within it, is essential to regional stability. Everything must be done to prevent Iraq from being drawn into the ongoing escalation. France remains at the side of its Iraqi partners.’

Yemeni Houthi loyalists protest in support of Iran during the war with US and Israel on March 27, 2026