Israel Bolsters Naval Forces in Red Sea as Houthis Step Up Missile and Drone Attacks

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced the deployment of additional Navy missile boats in the Red Sea as a response to ongoing missile and drone attacks by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. The move comes after the military intercepted a missile and two drones launched from Yemen at Israel, as well as another target near the city of Eilat. The IDF has implemented multiple layers of air defenses in the region to protect against Houthi attacks, with support from the US military. Images shared by the Israeli military show Saar-class corvettes patrolling near the port of Eilat, emphasizing Israel's perception of the Red Sea as a new front in the conflict.

As Israel continues its war in Gaza, it faces retaliation from Iran-aligned pro-Hamas forces in various parts of the region, making the Red Sea area a potential target for attacks. The Houthi movement, aligned with Iran, has claimed responsibility for multiple missile and drone attacks on Israel since the start of the Hamas-Israel war. They have also vowed to carry out further attacks to assist the Palestinians in achieving victory. Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi has condemned these attacks as intolerable, but did not provide specifics regarding Israel's potential response.

The Houthis, based in Yemen and more than a thousand miles away from Israel, are part of a broader Iran-aligned alliance that includes Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. Missiles and drones fired from the Red Sea area towards Israel have either been intercepted or fallen short thus far. In a previous incident on October 27, Israel attributed a drone attack in two Egyptian towns on the Red Sea to the Houthis, stating that the intended target had been Israel. The deployment of additional missile boats by the IDF aims to fortify defenses and deter further Houthi attacks in the Red Sea region.