After the Gaza war began in October 2023, Houthi missile attacks on Israel caused limited damage as most were intercepted. However, in July 2024, a Houthi drone evaded Israeli defenses and struck a residential building in Tel Aviv, killing one civilian. Renewed Houthi attacks on Israel are seen as a concern but not a major military challenge.

The greater risk lies in potential Houthi operations targeting Red Sea shipping routes. Saudi Arabia currently transports about four million barrels of oil daily through the Yanbu port pipeline to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, with tankers passing near Yemen en route to Asian markets. Between November 2023 and early 2025, the Houthis carried out around 200 attacks on Red Sea vessels, damaging more than 30 ships and hijacking at least one, reducing traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait and Suez Canal by nearly half.

Analysts warn that if Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz while the Houthis block the Red Sea, the simultaneous disruption of these two vital waterways could have catastrophic consequences for global trade.