Houthis Declare War With US, Fire Palestine 2 Missiles Against Israel As Tensions Escalate

Tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile at Israel on March 20, marking their third attack in just 24 hours. The Houthis claim their "Palestine-2" hypersonic missile struck a military target near Tel Aviv, though Israel's Iron Dome successfully intercepted it. Sirens rang out across Jerusalem, the West Bank, and central Israel, raising fears of further escalation.
In response, American warplanes launched multiple airstrikes on Yemen, targeting Houthi-controlled Al-Hudaydah and Saada provinces. Reports from the ground describe heavy civilian casualties, with entire neighborhoods in Sanaa reduced to rubble. The U.S. insists its strikes are aimed at deterring further Houthi aggression in the Red Sea and against Israel, but the Houthis vow escalation in response.
Houthi officials have declared war on the U.S., vowing to continue strikes on American warships and military assets unless Washington ends its operations in Yemen. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei condemned the U.S. airstrikes as a “crime that must be stopped”, warning that Washington will face consequences if the attacks continue.