Houthi intervention could become key variable in escalation of regional tensions: expert

The involvement of Yemen's Houthi armed forces in the ongoing Middle East conflict on Saturday could become a key variable in further escalating the tensions in the region, said an expert from the militia group.

The Houthi armed forces said on Saturday that they had launched a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting "sensitive Israeli military sites" in southern Israel, marking the group's first such attack since Israel and the United States launched a joint military operation against Iran a month ago.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said that the operation was carried out "using powerful ballistic missiles for the first time" in support of Iran and the "resistance axes" in Lebanon, Iraq, and Palestine.

He added that such actions would continue "until the aggression stops."

Strategic military expert of the Houthi group Abed Al-Thawr said the development is poised to have significant repercussions.

"It is foreseeable that this will have a major impact on the situation, especially as Israel can no longer bear a new round of conflict, particularly after the formal involvement of Yemen's Houthi armed forces in the war. We expect a response from Israel or even the United States. If the United States takes action, we will strike all its affiliated interests, including ships," he said.

Albed believes that with the opening of the Yemeni front, security risks in key shipping lanes such as the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have increased, and the spillover effects of the regional conflict are becoming increasingly apparent.

Given the ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and the impact of blocked passages on the international energy market, simultaneous pressure on the Red Sea will further squeeze global energy and trade transport routes, creating a compounded impact on the stability of the international shipping system and supply chains, increasing uncertainty in global economic operations, and thus intensifying strategic pressure on the United States and Israel, he said.

He noted that Yemen has now become a pivotal variable in the conflict, particularly along the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

"Yemen has become a significant variable, particularly in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Meanwhile, Iran is raising its negotiating demands, while the United States is continuously lowering its objectives. From its so-called goals of 'regime change,' 'destroying nuclear capabilities,' and 'destroying ballistic missiles,' the U.S. has not achieved any substantial results. Therefore, the U.S. is seeking a compromise, especially given the limited energy transport routes for the Gulf states, which are now reliant on routes through Saudi Arabia or Oman to the Arabian Sea," Albed said.

Houthi intervention could become key variable in escalation of regional tensions: expert

Houthi intervention could become key variable in escalation of regional tensions: expert

Houthi intervention could become key variable in escalation of regional tensions: expert

Amid displacement, women in Gaza are finding new ways to support their families, turning food initiatives into lifelines and first steps toward recovery.

Inside tents, they join a program run by American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), designed to shift families from aid dependency to income generation.

Among them is Mirvat Areef, one of the 55 participants. Areef lost her home, relatives, and income in the war and now bears responsibility for her family under harsh conditions.

"I work in the ANERA project. Our income is very low, while our needs are great, and prices are high. I am now working to cover my daughter's education expenses, and my husband is ill and cannot work," said Areef.

The women prepare meals and bake goods which are distributed to displaced families, children in temporary learning spaces, and patients in hospitals. "The main goal of this project is to transform women from people in need of assistance into productive individuals who can support their families. Most of the women participating are the main providers for their families. Some have lost their husbands or children, and others have no breadwinner," said Rana Rayan, cooking trainer.

With rising prices and limited job opportunities, the project offers a vital source of income. For many women, it has become a lifeline amid the ongoing crisis.

"We are working on a project called 'Women Can.' This project has two main goals: the first is to economically empower women, especially widows, divorced women, and those who have no source of income. The second goal is to provide meals and baked goods for displaced people and patients," said Islam Mehanna, Livelihood Project manager of ANERA.

According to the Palestinian Ministry of Women's Affairs, more than 21,000 women have lost their husbands since October 7, 2023.

And children, women, and the elderly make up more than 55 percent of the victims in Gaza.

These efforts show how women in Gaza are turning survival into resilience, becoming providers and anchors for their communities amid crisis.

'Women Can' project empowers Gaza families through cooperation, resilience