The deadly Houthi rebels have intensified attacks on Israel in response to the US and the Jewish state’s war on Iran.

Fresh panic spread across southern Israel after the Houthis launched yet another ballistic missile on April 1.

Reports said the Houthis targeted the Negev desert region in the southern part of the country.

According to the Israeli Defense Forces, the missile triggered sirens in a strategic town, including Beer Sheeba, the NEGV’s largest city and administrative capital, as well as across southern Israel.

The IDF said it identified the missile heading toward Israeli territory and aerial defense systems were quickly deployed to intercept the threat.

Soon after, the Israeli Home Front Command issued defensive guidelines urging the public to follow safety protocols.

Later, after assessing the situation, the command announced that it was safe to leave protected spaces across the country.

The Israeli military successfully intercepted the missile and no injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, Yemen-based Houthi rebels, a heavily armed Iranbacked militia, have entered the Iran war, launching multiple missiles and drones at Israel since joining the conflict over the weekend.

Experts say the Houthi’s entry marks a serious and deeply concerning escalation.

They have effectively opened a second front in the Iran war, threatening the Bab al-Mandab Strait just as the straight of Hormuz comes under pressure, squeezing one of the world’s most critical oil corridors from both ends.

The Houthis control parts of Yemen’s western coastline, including the Red Sea port city of Huda, and hold mountain strongholds overlooking the water.

This gives them the ability to threaten shipping through the Babel Elm Mandab Strait, a key maritime choke point connecting the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.

The Red Sea remains a major pressure point.

As seen during the Gaza War, the Houthis have the capability to disrupt navigation in the region with serious implications for global trade, especially oil and gas at a time when the Strait of Hormuz is already under strain.

The global oil market already under strain from disruptions in the straight of Hormuz found a temporary workaround earlier this month.

But that fragile relief may now be at risk.

As shipments through Hormuz slowed, Saudi Arabia began rerouting crude exports to its Red Sea port of Yanbu, sending millions of barrels westward to bypass the blockade.

In just 2 weeks, flows surged to around 4.6 million barrels per day, more than triple the usual levels, offering a partial cushion to global supply.

But that cushion is now under threat.

The entry of Iranbacked Houthi forces into the conflict and their potential move to target shipping through the Bob al-Manddev Strait could cut off this alternative route, turning a supply disruption into a full-blown crisis.

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The Red Sea route via Yanbu has become critical precisely because Hormuz, which normally carries around 15 million barrels per day, remains constrained.

While Yanbu cannot fully replace that volume, even its limited capacity has helped stabilize markets.

Now, losing this route would have outsized consequences.

Any disruption in Bob Almandeb, the narrow gateway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aiden, would directly impact oil flows heading toward Asia.

The strait has already seen increased traffic with crude shipments rising by 21% in March, making it an even more attractive target.

This choke point is not just a regional passage, it is a global energy artery.

If it becomes unsafe, tankers would be forced to reroute around Africa, adding weeks to journey times, increasing fuel costs, and tightening supply further.

Even the threat of attacks is enough to push up insurance premiums, freight costs, and ultimately oil prices.

The Houthis have already demonstrated their capability since late 2023.

They have targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea using drones and anti-ship missiles, forcing shipping companies to divert routes.

Their recent warning that closing Bob Almandeb is a viable option suggests that escalation is no longer hypothetical.

The impact is already visible.

Global benchmark Brent crude has surged around 50% since the conflict began, hovering near the $110 per barrel mark.

Analysts talking to CNN now warned that if Bob Almandev is disrupted, prices could cross $150 per barrel in the coming months, far earlier than expected.

More importantly, this is not just about price.

It is about availability, and Asia stands to take the biggest hit.

The region depends on the Middle East for roughly 60% of its oil supply, and much of the crude flowing through Yanbu is destined for Asian markets.

Any disruption would deepen an already tightening supply situation and countries are already feeling the strain.

The Philippines has declared an energy emergency.

South Korea has urged citizens to conserve energy and stockpiles across Asia are beginning to run down.

Houthis missile attacks on Israel widen Middle East war

If shipments are delayed or rerouted, shortages could begin to materialize as early as April.

According to CNN, Saudi Arabia may be forced to prioritize closer markets like Europe, leaving Asian buyers scrambling.

Alternatively, rerouting oil via the Suez Canal and around Africa would significantly delay deliveries, worsening the crunch.

What is unfolding is not just a regional disruption.

It is a systemic stress test of global energy flows.

With Hormuz already constrained, Bob Almandeb represents the last major pressure valve.

If that too is squeezed, the global oil system moves from tight to unstable.

And in such a scenario, the consequences go beyond rising fuel prices.

They extend to supply shortages, inflation spikes, and economic slowdowns, particularly in energy dependent regions.

The warning signs are already there.

What happens next at Bob Almandeb could determine whether the world faces a difficult oil market or a full-blown energy crisis.