Yemen, 28 March (H.S.):

Yemen's Houthi rebels launched a major ballistic missile assault on Israel Saturday amid a 29-day conflict gripping West Asia following US and Israeli strikes against Iran that have pushed regional tensions to the breaking point.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed the attack on the rebels' Al Masirah channel per Al Jazeera saying strikes would continue until their stated goals are met. The barrage targeted sensitive military sites in southern Israel though the Israeli army claimed it intercepted one missile mid-flight.

Sirens wailed around Beersheba and Israel's key nuclear research center triggering widespread panic in the area. With Hezbollah and Iran already battling Israel this marks a dangerous widening of the war.

The Houthis have disrupted global trade before by hitting over 100 ships in the Red Sea from late 2023 through early 2025 sinking two and killing four sailors. They now threaten to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait a vital chokepoint carrying a trillion dollars in goods yearly that could ripple through the Suez Canal and Strait of Hormuz hammering the world economy.

Rocket fire from southern Lebanon wounded nine Israeli soldiers meanwhile and experts warn Israel may hit back hard. New fronts like this could force tough questions for Israel's military strategy and leadership while turning the Middle East conflict into an even thornier mess with huge stakes for regional security and global markets.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar