Israeli media reported that the security establishment has detected movements of launch platforms in Yemeni territory, following statements by the leader of the Ansar Allah movement, Abdul Malik al Houthi, last Thursday declaring his group’s readiness to respond to developments linked to the war on Iran.
Israel’s Channel 14 reported Saturday evening that occupation forces had observed movements of launch platforms in Yemen over the past few hours, likely belonging to the Houthis, raising concerns of potential missile launches toward Israel, according to the Anadolu Agency.
Questions have intensified about the possibility of Houthi involvement in support of Iran in confronting the Israeli American aggression, particularly after the group repeatedly signalled that it may enter the conflict.
On Friday, the Ansar Allah movement in Yemen affirmed after a mass demonstration in Sana’a attended by thousands of Yemenis in solidarity with Iran that Yemen stands with the Muslim Iranian people and its Islamic system.
This followed remarks by the group’s leader Abdul Malik al Houthi in a speech broadcast on the Al Masirah television channel, affiliated with the Houthis, declaring support for Iran against what he described as Israeli American aggression and announcing the group’s readiness to deal with developments related to the war.
Al Houthi said, “Our hands are on the trigger and we will move militarily at any moment required by developments in the region.” He added, “We affirm our support for the Muslim Iranian people and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and we confirm our readiness for all developments in this battle.”
Calculations of Gains and Losses
Commenting on the developments, Yemeni researcher Abdul Salam Qaid believes that the possibility of Houthi intervention alongside Iran in a military confrontation against Israel or the United States remains tied to the group’s calculations of gains and losses.
In remarks to Anadolu Agency, Qaid said the Houthis had previously used the Palestinian cause as a means of strengthening their domestic legitimacy. However, he argued that entering a direct military confrontation in favour of Iran would not yield real gains and could instead bring significant losses.
He estimated that any potential intervention by the Houthis would likely be symbolic or limited in nature, intended to ease political pressure rather than represent full participation in a wide scale war. According to him, a conflict between states possessing regular armies, advanced aircraft, and sophisticated missile systems exceeds the capabilities of the Houthis.
Military affairs researcher Adnan al Jabrani, who specialises in Houthi affairs, believes the group is prepared and has identified potential targets. However, the timing of any intervention remains dependent on the calculations of the Iranian axis.
Al Jabrani added that if the war continues along its current trajectory, he does not expect the Houthis to intervene unless the conflict becomes prolonged and Iran seeks to raise the cost of confrontation.
He predicted that if the Houthis do intervene, their actions could include operations in the Red Sea and the Bab al Mandeb Strait, strikes against targets in Israel, and attacks on American military bases in countries across the region.
Previous Military Confrontations
The Houthi movement previously entered a military confrontation with Israel from October 2023 until October 2025, launching missile and drone attacks in support of Gaza, which was subjected to a genocidal war.
Tel Aviv carried out several strikes against strategic sites under Houthi control in Yemen. One such attack killed the head of the group’s government Ahmed al Rahwi and nine of his ministers, while other attacks destroyed vital ports and airports.
During 2024 and 2025, the United States and Britain launched a series of air strikes against Houthi positions in response to attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which the Houthis said were heading toward Israeli ports.
Since February 28, 2026, Israel and the United States have been carrying out attacks against Iran that have killed hundreds of people, including Ali Khamenei and senior security officials. Tehran has responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel.
Iran has also targeted what it describes as American interests in Arab countries, resulting in deaths and injuries and damage to civilian infrastructure, actions that have been condemned by the affected states.
