Yemen’s Houthi group has claimed responsibility for a drone strike in Tel Aviv, Israel, killing one and injuring eight. This marks the first known Houthi attack on Tel Aviv, with the group targeting Israeli-linked sites since the war on Gaza began in October. The drone strike hit an apartment building and was identified as a modified Iranian craft. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the drone, named “Jaffa,” could evade Israel’s air defense systems.
Despite being close to Gaza, Tel Aviv has been largely untouched by the conflict there, making this strike significant. Analysts suggest that the Houthi arsenal is expanding, as they have used drones extensively during their campaign. While past Houthi attacks on Israel were intercepted, this strike reaching Tel Aviv is a new development.
The Houthi group has a history of using drone warfare, with Western countries targeting their drones preemptively. The attack is seen as part of the Houthi’s escalating actions, with the potential for more distant targets to be hit in the future. While the potential for regional escalation exists, it is currently unlikely due to past tensions between Iran and Israel.
The Houthi group is allied with Iran, but it is unclear if Iran ordered the Tel Aviv strike. Tehran’s support likely extends to weapons, but the level of control over the Houthi group is uncertain. The situation may prompt Israeli retaliation, though the extent remains to be seen. The Houthi’s status as an Iranian proxy force is debated, with indications of domestic production capability for missiles.
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