Aden (South24 Center)

Israel stated on Saturday (March 28) that it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, less than 24 hours after the Houthi group announced its readiness for direct military intervention alongside Iran if the war escalates.

The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported that a missile was fired toward Israel, while the Israeli military confirmed that it had been intercepted earlier in the day without causing damage. This marks the first such incident since the outbreak of war between Iran, the United States, and Israel a month ago.

In an official statement, the Houthi military spokesperson said the group had carried out an attack using ballistic missiles targeting "sensitive Israeli targets," adding that the operation came "in support of Iran and the resistance in Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine."

The statement vowed to continue the attacks until all assaults on the parties of the Iran-led "Axis of Resistance" are halted.

The attack follows a statement issued by the Houthis on Friday (March 27), in which they declared that their "fingers are on the trigger" for direct military intervention.

The statement identified three scenarios that could prompt them to expand their operations: the joining of other "alliances" with the United States and Israel against Iran, the use of the Red Sea to conduct hostile operations against Tehran or "any Muslim country," or the continued escalation against Iran and the "Jihad and Resistance" axis.

Furthermore, the statement called for an "immediate response" to international and diplomatic efforts aimed at stopping the attacks on Iran, warning that continued U.S. and Israeli escalation "threatens regional security and global stability" and inflicts "direct damage on the international economy."

The Houthis demanded a halt to attacks on Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran, along with lifting what they described as the "unjust blockade" on Yemen and implementing the Gaza agreement and its associated humanitarian and political obligations.

This escalation comes amid a series of hardline positions issued over the past few days by prominent Houthi leaders, increasingly linking the path of de-escalation in Yemen to regional developments.

Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, accused Saudi Arabia in a speech on March 25 of obstructing the implementation of the Yemen roadmap and delaying its associated commitments. He added that Tehran "has the right to defend itself" in light of the current escalation.

Additionally, Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Bukhaiti stated on March 20 that the group might resort to closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait to "aggressor" nations if the scope of the war widens, adding that "all options are open.