Israel faces third front from Houthis as war enters second month, military expands Lebanon operations

Report by Amal Shehadeh, English adaptation by Karine Keuchkerian 

With the war entering its second month, Israel has found itself facing a third front from the Houthis, compounding the challenges facing its defense systems and placing the southern region within range of two fronts simultaneously.

Security assessments say the fronts now include Iran and the Houthis, in addition to the northern and central fronts involving Iran and Hezbollah.

A Houthi ballistic missile launched toward southern Israel signals the risk of what security officials describe as a new scenario that could expand to threaten maritime navigation and affect the global oil market.

The missile from Yemen came after a night during which millions of Israelis remained in shelters until dawn following missile fire from Hezbollah and Iran. 

Among the projectiles was a cluster missile that struck about ten locations in the area around the site. It fell during the night, killing one Israeli, wounding dozens, and causing extensive damage, according to information cleared for publication by military censors.

In Lebanon, the Israeli army has intensified its attacks and expanded its congtrol, reinforcing its units with additional troops and armored vehicles to support confrontations with Hezbollah fighters. Military censors also allowed the publication of reports that nine soldiers were wounded.

At the same time, warnings are growing in Israel about the risk of becoming bogged down in Lebanon as calls for a full-scale war continue and shelling of civilian targets intensifies.

Despite the deaths, injuries, and public outcry directed at decision-makers, and estimates that Iran and Hezbollah possess enough missiles to sustain heavy daily bombardment for weeks, a majority of Israelis still support continuing the war with Lebanon.

According to surveys, 74% want the Litani River to become a new borderline with Lebanon, while 76% oppose agreeing to halt fighting with Hezbollah if that were a condition in an agreement to end the war with Iran.