Non-international armed conflict between Israel and the Houthis

26 March 2026

Background

The 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel led to a shift in the dynamics of the conflict in Yemen. Three days after the assault, Yemen’s Houthi leader, Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, threatened that if the United States was to intervene directly in the Hamas-Israel war, his group would take military action in response.¹ In the aftermath of this declaration, cruise missiles and drones were launched towards Israel, by the Houthis, but were intercepted by the USS Carney.² On 31 October 2023, the Houthis officially announced their ‘entry into the war’ to support Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.³

Intensity

On 31 October 2023 the Houthis started its attack against Israel by launching ‘a large number’ of missiles and drones towards Israel.⁴ Houthi attacks on Israel continued in November 2023,⁵ and by the end of December, the Houthis had conducted thirty-four attacks against Israel and ships in the Red Sea.⁶

While attacks dwindled after November 2023, they did still happen intermittently.⁷ In February 2024, the Houthis continued to target Israel, but their attacks were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.⁸ In March, however, the Houthis managed to penetrate Israel’s Iron Dome for the first time, with a missile landing near Eilat.⁹ Israeli ships were also targeted in February and March.¹⁰ In July, the Houthis struck Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring ten others.¹¹ As a response, Israel struck oil and gas depots in Hodeidah Port in Houthi-controlled Yemen, the first known strike on Yemen by Israel.¹² At least six people died while eighty-seven were injured.¹³ The Houthis responded by targeting Eilat in Israel but their attack was intercepted.¹⁴

The strikes continued between July and November, with the Houthis taking responsibility for six attacks on Israel, three of which were intercepted.¹⁵ In December, the Houthis again targeted Israel; while the strike was partially intercepted, some of the missile hit a school in Tel Aviv, killing nine people. ¹⁶ Israel responded, again targeting Hodeidah.¹⁷

After an exchange of attacks in early January 2025, hostilities between the two parties was suspended after the January 2025 Gaza ceasefire came into effect.¹⁸ However, in March 2025 the Houthis launched a hypersonic missile at Ben Gurion airport in Israel after Israel unilaterally broke the Gaza ceasefire.¹⁹ Israel intercepted the attack before it entered it’s airspace.²⁰ The Houthis again struck Ben Gurion airport in May, this time landing the attack not on but close to the airport.²¹ Eight people were injured and the group vowed to continue attacks until the war in Gaza came to an end.²² Israel responded, carrying out a series of attacks in Houthi-controlled Yemen throughout May.²³ In June, the Houthis fired more missiles, one falling near Hebron and another landing outside Israel’s territory.²⁴ Also in June, Israel struck Sana’a, targeting Houthi Military Chief of Staff, Muhammad al-Ghamari.²⁵ In August, the Houthis used cluster munitions, hitting a backyard in central Israel.²⁶

At the end of August, Israel killed the Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahwi as well as eleven other leading Houthi figures in a series strike on Sana’a.²⁷ In response, the Houthis hit Ramon International Airport in Israel on 7 September, injuring two people.²⁸ The rest of September remained intense with the Houthis continuing to respond to the death of their leaders with several strikes and Israel responding in kind.²⁹

The attacks eventually came to an end with the October 2025 Gaza ceasefire.³⁰ The Houthis, however, stated that they remained ready to return to violence should ‘the Israeli enemy return to its aggression’.³¹

From the above assessment, it is clear that the fighting between Israel and the Houthis equated to protracted armed violence and the intensity threshold demanded by IHL was met during the period under review.

Organization

See above.

The Houthis are sufficiently organized as demanded by IHL.

As the Tadić thresholds of intensity and organization are satisfied for the situation between the Israel and the Houthis, this conflict qualifies as a NIAC.

1
Center for Preventative Action, ‘Conflict in Yemen and the Red Sea’, Council for Foreign Relations, 28 February 2026; ‘Yemen’s Houthis warn they will fire missiles, drones if US intervenes in Gaza conflict’, Reuters, 10 October 2023.
2
Center for Preventative Action, ‘Conflict in Yemen and the Red Sea’, Council for Foreign Relations, 28 February 2026; O. Llebermann, ‘Incident involving US warship intercepting missiles near Yemen lasted 9 hours’, CNN, 20 October 2023; ‘Deep Dive: Houthis effectively declare war on Israel after drone, missile barrage’, Amwaj Media, 31 October 2023.
3
M. Motamedi, ‘Why did Yemen’s Houthis launch attack on Israel, will it help Gaza?’, Al Jazeera, 9 November 2023; Center for Preventative Action, ‘Conflict in Yemen and the Red Sea’, Council for Foreign Relations, 28 February 2026.
4
M. El Dahan, ‘Yemen’s Houthis enter Mideast fray, hardening spillover fears’, Reuters, 1 November 2023.
5
‘Yemen’s Houthis say they fired ballistic missiles towards Israel’, Al Jazeera, 14 November 2023; ‘Identical letters dated 29 November 2023 from the Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council’, UN Doc S/2023/928, 30 November 2023
6
‘Yemen Situation Update: December 2023’, ACLED, 19 January 2024.
7
‘Yemen Situation Update: April 2024’, ACLED, 6 May 2024.
8
‘Houthis say they fired ballistic missiles at Israel’s Eilat’, Reuters, 2 February 2024; ‘Yemen’s Houthis claim attacks on Israeli, US ships’, Al Jazeera, 20 February 2024; ‘Houthi chief vows to step up Red Sea strikes as group confirms Eilat attack’, The Times of Israel, 24 February 2024.
9
E. Fabian, ‘In first, IDF confirms Houthi cruise missile hit open area near Eilat on Monday’, The Times of Israel, 19 March 2024; ‘Yemen’s Houthis penetrate Israel’s missile defences in Eilat for first time’, The New Arab, 20 March 2024.
10
‘Houthi chief vows to step up Red Sea strikes as group confirms Eilat attack’, The Times of Israel, 24 February 2024; ‘Yemen’s Houthis launch attacks on US, Israeli vessels as warships defend’, Al Jazeera, 25 April 2024.
11
R. Michaelson, ‘Israel shaken as fatal Houthi drone hits Tel Aviv after interception failure’, The Guardian, 19 July 2024.
12
R. Michaelsonet al, ‘Israel strikes Yemen port after Houthi rebels attack Tel Aviv’, The Guardian, 20 July 2024; ‘Israel says it struck Yemen’s Hodeidah in response to Houthi attacks’, Al Jazeera, 20 July 2024, Updated 21 July 2024; ‘Israel launches retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed Houthis’, Iran International, 20 July 2024.
13
‘Israel says it struck Yemen’s Hodeidah in response to Houthi attacks’, Al Jazeera, 20 July 2024, Updated 21 July 2024.
14
R. Michaelsonet al, ‘Israel strikes Yemen port after Houthi rebels attack Tel Aviv’, The Guardian, 20 July 2024; ‘Israel says it struck Yemen’s Hodeidah in response to Houthi attacks’, Al Jazeera, 20 July 2024, Updated 21 July 2024.
15
M. Shamyet al, ‘Middle East Overview: November 2024’, ACLED, 6 December 2024.
16
‘‘Lucky there were no children’: School near Tel Aviv ravaged by Houthi missile warhead’, The Times of Israel, 19 December 2024; D. Gritten, ‘Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen after missile attack’, BBC, 19 December 2024.
17
D. Gritten, ‘Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen after missile attack’, BBC, 19 December 2024; M. Yanget al, ‘‘Whoever harms Israel will pay a heavy price,’ says Netanyahu in statement’, The Guardian, 19 December 2024.
18
‘Houthis to halt Israel, Red Sea attacks if Gaza truce comes into force’, Al Jazeera, 18 January 2025.
19
‘Houthis claim missile launch at Israel amid renewed fighting in Gaza’, Al Jazeera, 20 March 2025.
20
‘Houthis claim missile launch at Israel amid renewed fighting in Gaza’, Al Jazeera, 20 March 2025.
21
K. Burke, ‘From Yemen, Houthis strike Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport’, Deutsche Welle, 4 May 2025; Mustafa Abu Ganeyeh, ‘Missile fired by Yemen’s Houthis lands near Israel’s main airport’, Reuters, 4 May 2025.
22
K. Burke, ‘From Yemen, Houthis strike Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport’, Deutsche Welle, 4 May 2025.
23
J. Diamondet al, ‘Israel strikes targets in Yemen for the first time in months, a day after Houthis attack Tel Aviv airport’, CNN, 5 May 2025; ‘Israel launches strikes on two Yemen ports’, Al Jazeera, 16 May 2025; E. Fabian and S. Wrobel, ‘Israel intercepts Houthi ballistic missile; 2 hurt running for shelter’, The Times of Israel, 13 May 2025.
24
B. Toomey, ‘The Houthis join Iran’s attacks on Israel’, FDD’s Long War Journal, 18 June 2025.
25
B. Toomey, ‘The Houthis join Iran’s attacks on Israel’, FDD’s Long War Journal, 18 June 2025; E. Fabian, ‘Israeli officials say Houthi military chief targeted in Yemen strike’, The Times of Israel, 15 June 2025; ‘Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson BG Effie Defrin-June 15, 2025’, IDF Press Release, 15 June 2025.
26
Y. J. Bob, ‘Houthi ballistic missile fired at Israel contained cluster munitions, IDF says’, The Jerusalem Post, 24 August 2025, Updated 25 August 2025; ‘IDF intercepts Houthi missile fired on Friday, fragments fall in central Israeli backyard’, The Jerusalem Post, 22 August 2025, Updated 23 August 2025.
27
J. Pollock and D. Symon, ‘Despite the Gaza ceasefire, the Israel–Houthi conflict may resume’, Chatham House, 24 October 2025, Updated 16 December 2025; ‘Iran-backed Houthis confirm death of PM, ministers in Israeli strike’, Iran International, 30 August 2025; ‘Israel launches latest attacks against Houthis in Yemen’s Sanaa’, Al Jazeera, 28 August 2025; ‘Israel and the Houthis Escalate’, The Soufan Center, 17 September 2025.
28
‘Yemen’s Houthis attack Israel’s Ramon Airport in latest escalation’, Iran International, 7 September 2025; ‘Yemen’s Houthis claim responsibility for drone attack on Israeli airport’, Al Jazeera, 7 September 2025; O. Llebermannet al, ‘Sirens fail as Houthi drone hits arrivals hall at Ramon Airport in southern Israel, authorities say’, CNN, 7 September 2025.
29
‘Israel and the Houthis Escalate’, The Soufan Center, 17 September 2025; B. Toomey, ‘Reciprocal attacks between Houthis and Israel continue’, FDD’s Long War Journal, 15 September 2025; Y. Ehab and M. Ghobari, ‘Israel strikes Yemen’s Sanaa after Houthi drone attack on Eilat’, Reuters, 25 September 2025; D. Gritten, ‘Israeli strike on Yemen’s Houthis reportedly kills eight’, BBC, 25 September 2025; R. Sullivanet al, ‘Israel launches series of strikes on Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah’, Al Jazeera, 16 September 2025; D. Gritten, ‘Israeli strikes in Yemen kill 35 people, Houthis say’, BBC, 11 September 2025; F. Najjar and Reuters, ‘Israeli strikes pound Yemen’s capital as Houthi leader decries Gaza war’, Al Jazeera, 25 September 2025.
30
B. Toomey, ‘Houthis signal pause in attacks on Israel after Gaza ceasefire, detail attacks during the conflict’, FDD’s Long War Journal, 16 October 2025; J. Pollock and D. Symon, ‘Despite the Gaza ceasefire, the Israel–Houthi conflict may resume’, Chatham House, 24 October 2025, Updated 16 December 2025; O. Al Rawhani, ‘After the Gaza cease-fire, what’s next for the Houthis?’, Atlantic Council, 16 October 2025.
31
B. Toomey, ‘Houthis signal pause in attacks on Israel after Gaza ceasefire, detail attacks during the conflict’, FDD’s Long War Journal, 16 October 2025.