The Houthis entered the 2026 Iran war on March 28, 2026, by launching missile and drone attacks at Israel.

On March 28, 2026, the Houthis in Yemen started acting as a key, strategically positioned ally of Iran within its "Axis of Resistance." While maintaining some operational independence, the Houthis are heavily supported by Tehran—receiving weapons, technology, and training from the IRGC—and have recently joined the ongoing conflict against Israel and the U.S. in support of Iran.

The entry of the Houthis into the conflict has prompted concerns about their potential to disrupt shipping in the Bab al-Mandab Strait. For millennia, the strait has been a hub for sea trade between East Africa, Arabia, and India, as well as a point of transit between the continents of Africa and Asia.