Washington reportedly worried Israeli action against Iran-backed Yemeni rebels could ignite broader conflict amid ongoing war against Hamas.

The Biden administration has urged Israel not to respond to recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthis, including several missile and drone assaults, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

The report cited unnamed officials from the US and other governments as saying Washington is concerned that an Israeli response could ignite a wider conflict in a region that is already on edge amid the Israel-Hamas war.

Rather, Washington wants Israel to let the US military handle the response to the Houthis, who have also attacked shipping in the Red Sea.

At the same time, the US is also apparently reluctant to hit the Iran-backed Houthis.

The rebel group has fired several ballistic missiles and drones at Eilat since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war in October, all of which were intercepted or missed their targets. The latest attack came Wednesday when Israel shot down a ballistic missile over the Red Sea.

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