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The Iran-Israel war has entered a new phase on Saturday with Yemen’s Houthi rebels launching their first strike on Israel since the conflict began. The move opens a fresh front in a war that has already spread across multiple countries and disrupted global trade and energy markets.The attack comes as the conflict marks one month, with fighting intensifying between Israel and Iran and their regional allies. Analysts warn that the Houthis’ entry could further widen the war, particularly if key shipping routes in the Red Sea are drawn into the crisis.

Houthis open new front with missile barrage

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced the operation on the group’s Al-Masirah television, claiming a barrage of ballistic missiles targeting “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel. He warned that strikes would continue until what he described as “aggression” against allied groups across the region ends.Air raid sirens sounded in Beersheba and near key Israeli installations, while explosions were reported in Tel Aviv as Iran and Hezbollah also continued overnight attacks. Israeli emergency services said they were responding to multiple impact sites.The Houthis’ involvement is seen as highly consequential. The group had previously targeted Israel during the Gaza war and attacked shipping in the Red Sea, disrupting a route through which roughly $1 trillion in goods pass annually. Their leadership has now hinted at further escalation, including the possibility of targeting vessels linked to Israel or even attempting to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.Experts warn such a move could severely impact global trade, especially when combined with existing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. One regional analyst described the scenario as “a nightmare on top of a nightmare” for international shipping.

Regional conflict deepens as Iran and Israel escalate

The Houthi strike comes amid intensified hostilities between Israel and Iran. Israeli forces have recently targeted key nuclear-linked facilities, including sites associated with uranium processing and heavy water production. Tehran has vowed retaliation, with strikes already reported on regional military bases.One of the most serious incidents involved repeated attacks on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, where more than two dozen US personnel have reportedly been wounded over the past week. Missiles and drones struck the base in multiple waves, damaging aircraft and infrastructure.Meanwhile, cross-border violence has expanded. In Lebanon, fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah has intensified, with hundreds reported killed since the war began. Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv, have faced repeated missile alerts, underscoring the widening scope of the conflict.Despite brief signs of diplomatic progress — including Iran allowing limited humanitarian shipments through the Strait of Hormuz — the latest developments suggest the war is moving further away from de-escalation.

Global trade and military risks rise sharply

The Houthis’ entry could have far-reaching implications beyond the battlefield. The Red Sea, a critical artery for global commerce, may once again become a target. During earlier conflicts, Houthi attacks forced shipping companies to reroute vessels around Africa, significantly increasing costs and transit times.There are also growing concerns over military escalation at sea. The potential redeployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford into the Red Sea could expose US naval forces to sustained attacks, similar to earlier confrontations involving other American carriers in the region.The Houthis, who have controlled Sanaa since 2014, had maintained an uneasy ceasefire with Saudi Arabia in recent years. Their decision to join the conflict now risks reigniting broader regional tensions, particularly along key maritime routes.

CR Kesavan, left, and Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI: BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan on Saturday attacked the Congress in Tamil Nadu, alleging that the party was facing a “deep divide” after MP Jothimani publicly raised concerns over a lack of transparency in constituency selection ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.In a post on X, Kesavan said the developments reflected a larger pattern within the party and also targeted the DMK-Congress alliance in the state.“Rahul Gandhi’s Congress is a deeply divided house and is in total disarray in Tamil Nadu. Their Party MP from TN is now publicly attacking Congress leadership for having no transparency. There is a definite pattern to this. Rahul Gandhi’s point person in the Bihar elections was gheraoed by Congress workers for allegedly selling tickets. This is why the Compromised Congress has lost credibility with people across the country. The opportunistic DMK -Congress alliance is in tatters, and the disaster model DMK Govt’s misrule, which has been one of the worst regimes in the history of Tamil Nadu, will be categorically rejected by the people in the coming elections,” the BJP leader wrote.Kesavan’s remarks came after Jothimani publicly questioned the Congress party’s constituency selection process, alleging that decisions were taken in a “highly secretive manner” and that the welfare of the party had been compromised.“There is absolutely no transparency in the Congress party’s constituency selection. Our view that constituency selection should be done only after transparency and extensive discussion has not been accepted by the responsible leaders. Everything happened in a highly secretive manner. The welfare of the Congress party has been entirely compromised. It is heartbreaking to see a few individuals, who haven’t even bothered to pluck a single feather from the decades-long hard work of genuine Congress party workers like us for the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, now selling it off,” Jothimani wrote on X.She also warned that the party could face serious consequences in Tamil Nadu if the same approach is followed during candidate selection.“One cannot remain silent in the face of this terrible situation without raising questions. The party is not just the responsible leaders, the state president, and the legislative party leader. The sentiments and labour of lakhs of workers are what make the party. We can discuss this in detail once the list is released. If candidate selection is also going to happen with this same selling approach, no one can save the Congress party in Tamil Nadu.“The political developments come as the DMK alliance continues preparations for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced that its ‘Rising Sun’ symbol will contest in nearly 175 constituencies in the state.So far, the DMK alliance has allotted seats to nine parties, including Congress (28), MDMK (4), IUML (2), MMK (2), KMDK (2), CPI (5), CPM (5), VCK (8), and DMDK (10). A total of 66 seats have been allocated to allies, with seven of them being contested under the DMK symbol.With remaining allocations expected, the DMK will directly contest 168 seats, while allied candidates in seven seats will also contest under the Rising Sun symbol, taking the total to 175 seats under the DMK symbol.Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4.

Two large Chinese-linked container ships made an abrupt U-turn near the Strait of Hormuz on Friday as Iran tightens its grip on one of the key passages for global shipping. Ship-tracking data showed the CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean, both linked to China’s state-owned COSCO Shipping, attempted to leave the Gulf in the early hours before turning back close to Iranian waters. The move came despite Tehran’s recent assurances that vessels from “friendly nations”, including China, would be allowed to pass.Interestingly, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had stated just a day earlier that Tehran would permit safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for ships from five “friendly” nations: China, Russia, India, Iraq, and Pakistan.

According to ship-tracking data, the two vessels moved towards the narrow Strait at around 0350 GMT before reversing course near Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands.