The Yemen-based Houthi militant group claimed responsibility for an attack on Israel on Saturday, marking the Iran-backed group’s entry into the widening conflict in the Middle East, one that could further disrupt the region’s vital shipping lanes. The Houthis “have carried out their first military operation with a batch of ballistic missiles, which targeted sensitive military targets” of Israel, the group’s armed forces said on Telegram Saturday, citing “continued military escalation” against Iran, Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories. “This operation coincided with the heroic operations carried out by the brothers, the fighters in Iran and Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the operation successfully achieved its goals,” the Iran-backed group added. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed a missile launch from Yemen toward Israel, adding that aerial defense systems were operating to intercept the threat. It later gave the all-clear to sheltering civilians. FORSUBSCRIBERS While such strikes may have limited direct military impact, the Houthis carry the potential to trigger broader disruption, particularly in the Red Sea, a critical artery for global trade. Global shipping and oil …