The United States was compelled to end a one-month air campaign targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi terror organization in Yemen after sophisticated Houthi air defenses—supplied and financed by Tehran—posed serious and unexpected challenges to the operation, according to sources familiar with Pentagon briefings and defense analysts.
The brief campaign, authorized by President Donald Trump and conducted with regional partners, sought to curtail Houthi advances, reduce their drone and missile capabilities, and demonstrate American resolve. However, mounting evidence showed that the Houthis’ use of advanced Iranian-supplied air defense systems—most notably thermal-optical missiles such as the 358—had leveled the playing field and exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. air operations.
Iran’s regional strategy relies on empowering proxies—including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen—with advanced weaponry, destabilizing both Israel and its Western allies. The Houthis have, in recent years, received significant technological upgrades, increasingly fielding Iranian munitions illegally trafficked into Yemen in defiance of international embargos.
According to intelligence assessments and military after-action reports, the Houthis’ deployment of the 358 thermal-optical missile system altered the tactical calculus. While this system is primarily known for its effectiveness against uncrewed aerial vehicles, evidence suggests that it also threatened manned jets, including the F-35 and F-18 platforms. Unlike traditional radar-guided weapons, the thermal-optical guidance allows for target acquisition and engagement without radar emissions—complicating detection and electronic countermeasures.
Throughout the campaign, the Houthis succeeded in shooting down at least seven MQ-9 drones within a span of weeks. Several near-miss incidents were reported involving American fighter jets, and the loss of two F-18s due to non-combat incidents added to the Pentagon’s operational risk assessments. The threat of a manned aircraft being shot down—and the catastrophic prospect of a U.S. or allied pilot falling into the hands of Iranian-backed terrorists—played a major role in the administration’s decision to accept an Omani-mediated ceasefire and enter negotiations.
These developments have far-reaching implications. Iran’s supply of advanced missiles, drones, and guidance systems to its proxies weakens Western deterrence and increases the threats faced by Israeli and U.S. aircrews. For the Israel Defense Forces—under the command of Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir—the Yemen campaign serves as a cautionary tale and proof of the ongoing need to adapt air defenses, tactics, and intelligence operations in the face of evolving threats.
The episode highlights the growing sophistication of Iranian-backed forces and the expanding reach of Tehran’s ‘axis of resistance.’ Israeli officials, regional security experts, and U.S. defense authorities warn that this escalation underscores the regional and global dangers of allowing Iran to continue arming and directing its terror proxies unchecked. If Iranian-backed groups can threaten the world’s most advanced air forces, similar threats could soon expand to neighboring fronts, including Israel’s own skies.
Regional analysts note that the Houthis’ ability to inflict losses and force a pause in American operations sends a dangerous message to Tehran’s other proxies. As the Houthis strengthen their hand with cutting-edge weapons, Western democracies and their partners—especially Israel—must continue to enhance intelligence sharing, military cooperation, and technological innovation to meet the Iranian challenge head-on.
Ultimately, the short-lived U.S. operation in Yemen represents a case study in the risks posed by Iranian proliferation and proxy warfare. The episode lays bare the urgent necessity for robust Western-Israeli partnerships and advanced counter-terror strategies to defend democratic societies in an increasingly unstable Middle East.
