A StandWithUs UK Deep Dive
In the early hours of Friday 19th July, a Houthi attack drone evaded Israeli monitoring and struck an apartment block in Tel Aviv, killing a man and injuring several others. We look at the Houthis, the Israeli response, and the significance of this recent escalation.
In a nutshell:
The Houthis are an Iran-backed Shiite Islamist movement that seized control of Yemen’s capital in 2014, leading to civil war. Known for their antisemitic and anti-American stance, they are part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance.” After Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Houthis increased attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, have launched hundreds of missiles and UAVs at Israel, and hit Tel Aviv for the first time on July 19th, killing a man. In response, on July 20th, Israeli jets struck Hodeidah port in Yemen, targeting fuel depots and cargo-handling equipment, significantly disrupting the Houthis’ supply chain and signalling a strong stance against further Houthi aggression, as well as sending a message to Iran of its capabilities.
Firstly, who are the Houthis and why are they attacking Israel?
The Houthis are an Iran-backed, Shiite Islamist movement that seized control of Yemen’s capital in 2014 and instigated civil war. Driven by an explicitly antisemitic and anti-American ethos, the Houthis are part of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” that includes Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the Houthis have escalated attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea. Despite a significant record of terror and human rights abuses, the Biden administration de-listed the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in 2021 only to partially restore sanctions in 2024. The Houthis are not proscribed as a terror organisation in the UK.
The Houthis were founded in 1992 and instigated a civil war with the Yemenite government by violently seizing Sana’a, the capital, in 2014. A coalition of Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia subsequently launched a military campaign to restore the internationally recognised government. The war in Yemen raged for seven years until the United Nations brokered a six-month ceasefire in April 2022. Hostilities remained limited in scope even after the agreement expired in October 2022. Peace talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis were ongoing when Hamas launched its October 7 attack.
The Houthis’ official slogan is a clear expression of their core principles and goals: “Allah is the greatest, death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews, victory to Islam.”
The Houthi flag and slogan
The Islamic regime of Iran funds the Houthis with training and weapons, making them a key part of their so-called “Axis of Resistance” alongside Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as other terror groups. Following October 7th, the Houthis publicly declared that they would support Hamas, and have sent 50 cruise missiles and 150 UAV drones towards Israel, all of which had been successfully intercepted up until July 19th. Due to these attacks, the port in Eilat (the most southern city in Israel) has been crippled due to it not running. This port is a key trade link for Israel to Eastern nations, and is now on the verge of bankruptcy. As well as this, the Houthis have been attacking ships making their way to the Suez Canal, causing issues with delivery of goods across the world. This has affected a significant section of Egypt’s income, as they control the canal, and therefore it has meant that they are supportive of actions against the Houthis by Israel and other nations. On January 14, 2024, a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile fired towards the USS Laboon from Yemen was shot down by a U.S. fighter aircraft.
The Houthis have abused Yemeni people for decades, with many accusations including:
- Using child soldiers and human shields
- Hostage-taking for profit
- Diverting humanitarian aid to sell themselves
- Abuse of women and girls including sexual violence and child marriage
- Abuse of LGBTQ+ people, with many incidents of death sentences carried out
- Slavery of migrants
What happened on 19th July?
An explosive-laden drone launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen struck an apartment building in central Tel Aviv in the pre-dawn hours of Friday morning, 19th July. The building that was hit was in very close vicinity to the US consulate in Tel Aviv, raising questions about the initial target of the UAV.
According to an initial investigation carried out by the Israeli Air Force, the unmanned aerial vehicle had been identified, but due to a human error, it was not engaged by air defences. The IDF did not spell out what the human error was and continued to probe the failure.
As no action was taken against the identified target — later confirmed to be a large long-range attack drone — no warning sirens had sounded. A man was killed by shrapnel from the explosion, Magen David Adom said. According to the ambulance service, the man was found lifeless in a building. The victim was later named as Yevgeny Ferder, 50, who reportedly worked at Momo’s Hostel, adjacent to where the drone struck. His niece said he immigrated to Israel some 30 years ago and had served in an IDF combat unit and in the IDF reserves.
The Houthis in Yemen took responsibility for the attack earlier in the day. Yemen’s Houthis’ military spokesperson said the group attacked Tel Aviv with a drone and would continue to target Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war. The spokesman said that Tel Aviv will continue to be a primary target for the terror group “within the range of our weapons.” The group claimed it had launched a drone that could bypass radar detection systems.
How did Israel respond?
On July 20th, in a surprise response, Israeli fighter jets attacked the port of Hodeidah, the main port city in Yemen. According to reports and images from Hodeidah, Israel carried out a strike on fuel depots near the port. However, it seems this wasn’t the only target; other military facilities and cranes receiving weapons were also attacked. Various types of aircraft participated in the strike.
Why did they choose this target? The port of Hodeidah, which was attacked, is a strategic target because it is almost the only lifeline for the part of Yemen controlled by the Houthis, their only connection to the world for receiving goods on a large scale (and even exporting a little), and the majority of their military support is delivered through here. It is expected that the strike will disrupt life in north-western Yemen – including in the major city of Sana’a.
The first focus was on energy infrastructure, with about 20 fuel depots attacked, most within the port complex and some near the port that the Houthis had set up. The second focus was on the port’s cargo handling capabilities, deliberately targeting cranes and derricks used to unload goods from ships to the dock. The defence establishment estimates that the port’s ability to receive goods has been completely disrupted. This means that Iran will not be able to transfer weapons to the Houthis by sea in the near future, impacting this supply route. At the time of writing, the fires at the port are continuing to burn.
Map showing the attack on Hodeidah port in Yemen by Israeli Air Force.
What is significant about this event, and the potential implications?
There are several important points to note regarding Israel’s response to the Houthis.
The US approved of the strike on Hodeidah, following discussions between Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin. Israel felt it had no choice but to respond in this significant manner as they believe the US and UK, along with other air forces, are simply not doing enough to deter the Houthis. Secretary Austin was hesitant at first to agree on the target, due to it being a channel for humanitarian aid, but eventually agreed. Significantly, the operation was discussed with Saudi Arabia, who allowed the Israeli fighter jets to use its airspace in order to reach Hodeidah.
According to a senior Israeli source, “Israel understands and is prepared that following the strike, an active front with the Houthis will open, leading to a chain of reactions. But in the choice between exchanging blows and passivity against the Shiite axis and losing deterrence, a response is preferable.”
It is reported that following the operation, US and UK air forces struck the “Ras Isa” port in the Al-Salif area, about 55 km north of the Hodeidah port. This may be to send a message to Iran and its allies that the Western nations are standing strong against this terror threat.
And where is Iran in all this? Currently on the sidelines, although according to the IDF, the strike sends a message – as the target was farther than some parts of Iran. The Houthis do not coordinate every step with Tehran and have their own agenda. When the Americans – and even the Chinese – approached Iran and demanded it restrain the Houthis due to the severe impact on international trade, the Iranians responded that they do not control the Houthis. It is clear, however, that they provide significant assistance in weaponry, especially for the production of unmanned aerial vehicles. As well as this, the IDF may be sending a warning to Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, demonstrating what they can do to key ports in Lebanon in the future if hostilities escalate.
