Yemen-based Houthis — the last of Iran-backed groups still fully present in the regional war that began 14 months ago — are slowly escalating attacks on Israel with an eye to avoid full-out retaliation.

Multiple air raids have hit several targets in rebel-held areas of Yemen, witnesses and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels said, with their media saying Israel launched the strikes.

As Israel and Yemen-based Houthis have exchanged fire five times in the past two weeks, it increasingly appears that Yemen is the next battlefield in West Asia after Gaza Strip and Lebanon where an Ir