Houthis go the farthest with a missile attack on Israel’s Haifa

Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired a missile towards northern Israel early on Wednesday, marking the first time one of their attacks has reached the northern port city of Haifa.

The launch comes as the US has intensified its crackdown on the rebel group after a deadly strike at the Ras Isa fuel port killed at least 74 people.

Sirens went off in Haifa, Krayot, and nearby areas, and the Israeli military said it had intercepted the missile. People in the region reported hearing loud booms before dawn.

A Houthi spokesperson later claimed they had used a hypersonic missile to target Haifa. Although the group has made similar claims in the past, this was the first confirmed missile to reach northern Israel, according to the Israeli military.

Houthis shoot down US drone

The Houthis also said they had shot down another US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen. Meanwhile, American airstrikes against the Houthis continued on Wednesday morning, as part of an ongoing campaign that began on 15 March.

The Houthis reported strikes in the Hodeida, Marib, and Saada regions. In Marib, they said a strike had hit telecommunication equipment, a target the US has struck before.

In response, the Houthis have been focusing on shooting down American drones. Late on Tuesday, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said they had brought down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Hajjah province.

Saree said the drone was hit with a “locally made missile.” The Houthis are known to use surface-to-air missiles, including the Iranian-made 358, to shoot down aircraft. They claim to have downed 26 MQ-9 drones during the Yemen conflict.

Why is the US targeting the Houthis?

The US is targeting the Houthis because of their attacks on ships in the Red Sea—a vital route for global trade—and their attacks on Israel. The Houthis are the only remaining group in Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance” still capable of striking Israel regularly.

A review by the Associated Press found that the current US campaign against the Houthis under President Donald Trump is more intense than during President Joe Biden’s tenure. The new strikes began after the Houthis threatened to hit “Israeli” ships again, accusing Israel of blocking aid to Gaza.

Between November 2023 and January 2024, the Houthis attacked over 100 commercial ships using drones and missiles. They sank two ships and killed four sailors, severely disrupting trade in the Red Sea, where about $1 trillion worth of goods passes through each year. The Houthis also attempted—but failed—to strike US warships.

Deadly US strike in Yemen kills 74

Last week, the US military conducted a fierce strike on the Ras Isa fuel port, killing at least 74 people and wounding 171 others in the deadliest-known attack of the American campaign.