Yemeni Houthi armed forces spokesman announced on July 19 that they had carried out a drone attack on Tel Aviv, marking the first time the Israeli city has been targeted by Yemeni forces.

In a statement broadcast on Yemeni Al-Masirah TV, Brigadier General Yahya Sarea said a "unique military operation" was executed, striking an important target in the occupied Jaffa area, which is part of Tel Aviv.

"The operation was carried out using a new drone called 'Jaffa' that has the ability to bypass enemy interception systems," Sarea stated. "It successfully hit its target."

The spokesman declared the Jaffa area an "unsafe zone" and a primary target within range of their weapons.

Sarea said that the Yemeni forces would focus on the "Zionist enemy's internal front" and target the regime's depth.

He claimed they have a bank of targets in occupied Palestine, including sensitive military and security installations.

"We will continue to support the fighters in Gaza and the defenders of the Islamic and Arab nation," Sarea added.

"Our operations will continue until the war and siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza stops."

The Israeli military said that at least one person had died and ten injured in the attack by the Yemeni unrecognised government in control of Sana’a.

The Israel military said it had opened an investigation into the large explosion near the embassy of the United States in the city and would investigate how the Yemeni weapon broke through its alleged multi-billion dollar “Iron dome” which is supposed to protect it from aerial attacks.

Israel’s opposition politician Yair Lapid said the Yemeni hit was “further proof that this government does not know and cannot give security to the citizens of Israel”.

“Those who lose deterrence in the north and south also lose it in the heart of Tel Aviv. There are no policies, no plans, all public relations and discussions about themselves. They [the government] have to go,” wrote on X.

The Houthis have repeatedly hit Israel in support of the Palestinian cause with the Iran-backed group growing in strength after hitting the southern port of Eilat on the Red Sea.