Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired a missile at northern Israel on Wednesday. For the first time, the missile reached the port city of Haifa. Earlier, the U.S. launched a deadly strike in Yemen. That attack at Ras Isa fuel port killed at least 74 people.

Sirens and Interception in Haifa

Soon after the missile launch, sirens rang in Haifa, Krayot, and nearby towns. People reported hearing loud explosions before dawn. The Israeli military later said it had intercepted the missile.

Later, a Houthi spokesperson claimed they used a hypersonic missile. Although they have made such claims before, the Israeli military confirmed this was the first missile to reach northern Israel.

Houthis Down Another U.S. Drone

Meanwhile, the Houthis claimed they shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen. At the same time, American forces continued their airstrikes on Houthi positions on Wednesday.

According to Houthi sources, U.S. strikes hit areas in Hodeida, Marib, and Saada. In particular, a strike in Marib targeted telecom equipment—a site the U.S. had attacked before.

Houthis Target More Drones

In response, the Houthis focused on shooting down American drones. On Tuesday night, spokesperson Yahya Saree said they downed another MQ-9 drone over Hajjah province. He stated, “The drone was hit with a locally made missile.” The Houthis often use surface-to-air missiles like the Iranian-made 358.

So far, they claim to have shot down 26 U.S. MQ-9 drones during the Yemen conflict.

Why the U.S. Is Targeting the Houthis

The main reason the U.S. is attacking the Houthis is their threats to Red Sea shipping and to Israel. The Red Sea is vital for global trade. The Houthis, part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance,” are the only group still launching attacks on Israel regularly.

Interestingly, a review by the Associated Press showed the current U.S. campaign is harsher under President Trump than under President Biden. The recent strikes began after the Houthis warned of fresh attacks on Israeli-linked ships. They accused Israel of blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Between November 2023 and January 2024, the Houthis attacked over 100 commercial ships using drones and missiles. They sank two ships and killed four sailors. As a result, global trade through the Red Sea faced serious disruption. Around $1 trillion in goods pass through this route each year.

They also attempted to strike U.S. warships but failed.

U.S. Strike Kills 74 in Yemen

Just last week, the U.S. military launched a fierce strike on Ras Isa fuel port. The attack killed at least 74 people and injured 171 others. So far, this has been the deadliest American attack on the Houthis in the current campaign.