Houthis Launch Ballistic Missile Near Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

On the night of March 16, a ballistic missile launched from Yemen by the Ansar Allah group, commonly known as the Houthis, landed near the popular resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula..

The remoteness of the area and the lack of immediate official statements from the involved parties have made it difficult to obtain reliable information regarding the incident.

This missile launch occurred just hours after the U.S. Air Force conducted extensive airstrikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen. These strikes were a response to the Houthis’ escalating attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, which the group has labeled a “maritime boycott” against Israel. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on March 15 that he had ordered “massive strikes” against Houthi positions, indicating that this operation was the beginning of a series of efforts aimed at degrading the group’s military capabilities. That evening, U.S. aircraft targeted sites in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, including weapons depots, missile launchers, and command systems. According to the Pentagon, the operation was designed to safeguard international trade routes, which account for up to 15% of global commerce.

The Iran-backed Houthis have consistently threatened to resume missile and drone strikes against Israeli territory, citing their support for the Palestinian Hamas movement.

In Egypt, where the incident occurred, local authorities have not yet released an official statement regarding the missile strike’s implications. However, reports from local media indicate that security measures have been heightened in the Sharm el-Sheikh area, a popular tourist destination, in an effort to prevent panic among vacationers.