Houthi UAV Strike Against Tel Aviv Escalates Iran-backed Regional War

The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen launched an Iranian Samad-3 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on July 19 that killed one person and injured ten other individuals in Tel Aviv, Israel. The strike underscored that the war started by Hamas’s October 7 attack is not limited to Gaza but a multi-front conflict involving Iran’s full range of proxies. It also demonstrated, however, not only that the United States has failed to deter Houthi attacks but, to the contrary, that the Yemen-based terror group is growing bolder and more capable despite U.S. efforts to stop it. The Iranian-made UAV that struck Israel had been modified to extend its range by over 70 percent and launched on a trajectory designed to evade Israeli air defenses.

Following the attack, Israel conducted its first-ever strikes against the Houthis in Yemen on July 20, showing a willingness to hold the Houthi’s accountable that has so far mostly been lacking from U.S. efforts. In contrast to the U.S. strikes, which have primarily targeted Houthi launchers and weapons storage facilities, Israel’s strikes against cranes and oil supplies at the Hodeidah port degraded Iran’s ability to fund and arm its proxy in Yemen. The United States should coordinate with Israel and other partners to launch more frequent, deadly, and destructive strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen and Iranian ships, facilities, and leaders involved in weapons proliferation, enforce a quarantine to inspect ships traveling to Yemen, and enhance regional air defense protection.

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