In the news
On 19 July, Yemeni Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the group successfully targeted Israel’s capital, Tel Aviv, using a new drone, Yafa, “capable of bypassing the enemy’s interception and undetectable by radars.” The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, stated that the Houthis had used a modified Iranian-made “Samad-3” drone in their attack. 

On the same day, Hezbollah launched artillery shells at IDF soldiers in Manara. 

On 20 July, the IDF carried out “Operation Outstretched Arm,” bombing multiple targets in Yemen’s port city of Hudayda, killing six people and injuring 80 others. The IDF also bombed Hezbollah bases in southern Lebanon and intercepted a “suspicious air target” approaching Israel from Lebanese airspace. Separately, a Hezbollah drone strike injured two IDF soldiers in the Golan Heights region.

On 21 July, Hezbollah fired over 12 missiles and UAVs into northern Israel, damaging a school and setting a nature reserve on fire. On the same day, the Houthis fired multiple missiles at southern Israel’s Eliat city. 

On 22 July, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington DC to address a joint session of the US Congress to “anchor the bipartisan support that is so important to Israel.” 

On the same day, the IDF reported that its forces would begin operating in the Gaza Strip’s Khan Younis region. Before the attacks, it ordered residents to temporarily evacuate to a “safe zone” in western Khan Younis’ al-Mawasi area. The IDF then carried out raids and airstrikes, killing 70 Palestinians, including “dozens” of Hamas fighters. 

On 23 July, the IDF continued “clearing operations” in eastern Khan Younis while Hamas targeted Israeli tanks with rocket-propelled grenades. 
 
Issues at large
First, the Houthis’ intervention in the Gaza War and Iran’s role. Since November 2023, the Houthis began militarily supporting Hamas by attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea. Although they fired around 200 rockets towards Israel since the war started, the 19 July attack was the first successful one. From Israel, Operation Outstretched Arm marked its first direct military attack on the Houthis. According to the US Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) enabled the Houthis to carry out long-range strikes against Israel by supplying the Yemeni group with missile and drone technology. Furthermore, the report found that Houthi drones, including the Sammad (range: 1,800 kilometres) and Waid-2 (range: 2,500 kilometres, capable of reaching Israel) had identical designs to Iranian Shahed and Sayad drones.

Second, continuing Hezbollah’s attacks and new tactics. According to the Armed Conflict Location and Even Data Project (ACLED), the number of Hezbollah’s strikes against Israel remained constant since October 2023 with around 150 attacks every month. However, the data indicates that Hezbollah changed its tactics during July 2024, with a growing number (around 12 per cent) of its attacks reaching over three kilometres into Israel’s territory rather than being concentrated around the latter’s border regions. 

Third, Netanyahu’s US visit. Around 100 Democrats from both Houses boycotted the session. The Washington Post reported that massive anti-Israel protests erupted in the nation's capital, with demonstrators burning the American flag and chanting pro-Hamas slogans. In his speech, Netanyahu asked the US to intensify military aid to Israel, stating, "Give us the tools faster, and we'll finish the job." He called for a US-led "Abraham Alliance" against Iran and its anti-Israel proxies. On Israel's war efforts, Netanyahu applauded the IDF's efforts. He promised "total victory" against Hamas and "demilitarisation and deradicalisation" of Gaza. Outlining his endgame, he stated that Gaza would be governed by "Palestinians who do not seek to destroy Israel" under the Jewish state's "overriding security control."
 
In perspective
First, the role of Houthis and Hezbollah. Ahead of Netanyahu's US visit, all of Israel's Iran-backed adversaries including Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthis intensified their attacks on Israel. While Hamas resurfaced in Khan Younis, the Houthis and Hezbollah have extended their strike ranges and reiterated that they will not stop their attacks until Israel agrees to a ceasefire and ends its blockade of Gaza. 

Second, mixed US responses to Netanyahu. While Republicans gave Netanyahu a standing ovation in Congress, Biden and Harris avoided sharing the stage with the Israeli leader and preferred to meet him privately, reflecting their critical positions towards Israel's war efforts. While pro-Israel lawmakers praised Netanyahu's presentation of Israel's case, Democrats criticised him for downplaying Gaza's humanitarian situation and the IDF's intelligence failures.