An early morning drone attack hit central Tel Aviv, killing one and injuring four, claimed by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia. Hours earlier, Israel confirmed the killing of a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon.
The Houthi movement started as a religious revival for the Zaydi sect of Shi’ite Islam, escalating into guerrilla wars with the Yemeni army and conflicts with Saudi Arabia. Led by Abdul Malik al-Houthi, they control much of Yemen, receiving support from Iran.
The Houthi attacks on shipping routes show solidarity with Gaza, causing disruptions in global trade. The US and UK have retaliated with air strikes to restore trade flow. The Houthis demand an end to Israeli “aggression” in Gaza to stop attacks on Red Sea shipping.
Part of the “Axis of Resistance,” the Houthis deny being Iranian puppets, advocating primarily for domestic goals. Despite their slogan denouncing America and Israel, the Houthis’ motivations lie in Yemeni politics rather than external alliances.