When U.S. troops caught up with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the head of Islamic State, in a Syrian tunnel, they were able to pursue him successfully with the help of a trained dog, which survived when Baghdadi detonate himself. The IDF, fighting an enemy with a far more sophisticated network of tunnels, has relied extensively on its canine unit, Oketz (“sting,” in Hebrew). John Spencer, a leading expert on urban warfare, explains what the American military can learn from Oketz’s accomplishments:

Dogs have been instrumental in saving IDF soldiers’ lives, finding hidden explosives, and uncovering Hamas fighters concealed within the dense urban fabric of Gaza. Their heightened senses and ability to navigate narrow or debris-filled spaces make them invaluable assets in areas where traditional methods fall short.

During IDF operations in southern Lebanon in the 1990s, one of the primary threats was the widespread presence of improvised explosive devices planted along key routes by Hizballah. . . . Dogs were equipped with radio packs—essentially, small receivers and speakers that enabled handlers to transmit commands remotely via radio. This allowed the dogs to operate ahead of their handlers, covering long distances and clearing dangerous routes.

In the current war, these have been supplemented with remote cameras, which transmit visual data to handlers.

The IDF deliberately pairs handlers and dogs within small, cohesive teams—each team with a commander, a deputy, and two handler-dog pairs. This structure is designed to address the psychological challenges of urban warfare, providing mutual support for both handlers and dogs. By prioritizing mental health, the IDF fosters operational resilience, a model the U.S. military could replicate to combat stress among soldiers and dogs. The IDF’s reliance on military dogs comes at a significant cost, [however]. Since October 7, Oketz has lost three soldiers and 42 military working dogs.

For more than a year, the Iran-backed Houthis have been launching drones and missiles at ships traversing the Red Sea, as well as at Israeli territory, in support of Hamas. This development has drastically curtailed shipping through the Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, driving up trade prices. This week, the Trump administration began an extensive bombing campaign against the Houthis in an effort to reopen that crucial waterway. Burcu Ozcelik highlights another benefit of this action:

The administration has a broader geopolitical agenda—one that includes countering China’s economic leverage, particularly Beijing’s reliance on Iranian oil. By targeting the Houthis, the United States is not only safeguarding vital shipping lanes but also exerting pressure on the Iran-China energy nexus, a key component of Beijing’s strategic posture in the region.

China was the primary destination for up to 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports in 2024, underscoring the deepening economic ties between Beijing and Tehran despite U.S. sanctions. By helping fill Iranian coffers, China aids Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in financing proxies like the Houthis. Since October of last year, notable U.S. Treasury announcements have revealed covert links between China and the Houthis.

Striking the Houthis could trigger broader repercussions—not least by disrupting the flow of Iranian oil to China. While difficult to confirm, it is conceivable and has been reported, that the Houthis may have received financial or other forms of compensation from China (such as Chinese-made military components) in exchange for allowing freedom of passage for China-affiliated vessels in the Red Sea.