Footage shows the moment a suspected Houthi drone from Yemen was intercepted by Israeli air defenses over Eilat, as the Iran-backed Houthi terror group officially enters the war with direct long-range attacks on Israel.

The Houthis have claimed responsibility for launching a “salvo of cruise missiles and drones” targeting what they describe as vital and military sites in southern Israel. According to the IDF, one drone was shot down over Eilat this evening, while earlier in the day a cruise missile, and separately a ballistic missile, launched from Yemen were intercepted before reaching Israeli territory.

This marks the first confirmed wave of direct Houthi strikes in the current phase of the war. The group has openly aligned itself with Iran’s broader campaign, signaling it intends to continue operations as fighting escalates. Israeli assessments indicate multiple attacks were carried out within hours, all successfully intercepted.

The implications are significant. The war has now expanded into a full multi-front confrontation, from Lebanon and Gaza to Yemen, with Iran-backed proxies increasingly coordinating pressure on Israel. The Houthis, who have already proven their ability to strike long-range targets and disrupt Red Sea shipping routes critical to global trade, now add a new and unpredictable southern threat, raising the risk of sustained missile, drone, and maritime attacks in the days ahead.