Iran-backed Houthis join war with attack against Israel

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen say they have launched a barrage of missiles against Israel - the first since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran. The group said in a statement that it had targeted "sensitive Israeli military sites" and vowed to continue such attacks. Israel said it had shot down two missiles coming from Yemen. The entry of the powerful Iranian proxy into the conflict raises fears of further disruption to the world economy as the armed group has capacity to attack shipping in the Red Sea. Houthis consider themselves to be part of a so-called "axis of resistance" that also includes other groups financed by Iran, such as the Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Yemen has been devastated by a civil war that began 12 years ago, when the Houthis seized control of the country's north-west from the internationally recognised government and a Saudi-led coalition supported by the US intervened in an effort to restore its rule. Crucially, they control the Yemen's Red Sea coastline. The involvement of the group in the conflict that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran on 28 February had been largely expected. Prior to launching Saturday's attack, their