Tel Aviv hit by drone Attack from Yemen's Houthis

TEL AVIV, Israel,— In the early hours of Friday, a large, long-range drone struck central Tel Aviv, resulting in the death of one man and causing minor injuries to four others. This attack was claimed by the Iranian-backed Houthi militia. The Israeli military and emergency services confirmed the details of the incident.

The explosion, which did not activate air raid alarms, occurred shortly after the Israeli military announced the killing of a senior commander of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon.

An Israeli military spokesperson addressed the media, stating, “We’re dealing with a large UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) capable of long-distance flights.” While the spokesperson did not verify the Houthi militia’s claim, he noted, “Every possibility is being considered at this time.”

This assault on Tel Aviv is expected to heighten concerns about potential repercussions from the Gaza conflict, as the Houthis and other Iranian allies express their support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The military official indicated that an investigation was underway to determine why the drone failed to trigger the alarm. Preliminary findings suggest the drone was detected, but sirens were not sounded due to human error. Despite the attack, the military has not implemented new civil defense measures but has increased air patrols to safeguard Israeli airspace. However, the mayor of Tel Aviv announced that the city, Israel’s economic hub, was now on heightened alert.

A spokesperson for the Yemen-based Houthi militants, also supported by Iran like Hezbollah, declared that the group had targeted Tel Aviv with a drone and would continue to strike Israel in solidarity with the Palestinians involved in the Gaza war.

In a televised address, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree emphasized that Tel Aviv is a primary target “within the range of our weapons.” He disclosed that the attack utilized a new drone model named “Yafa,” which he claimed could evade interception systems and remain undetected by radar. “The operation has successfully achieved its objectives,” Saree stated.

Israeli emergency services reported that a 50-year-old man’s body was discovered in an apartment near the blast site. The incident is under investigation. Additionally, four individuals sustained minor shrapnel injuries and were hospitalized, while another four were treated for shock. All of the injured were subsequently released from the hospital.

Footage from the scene revealed damage to a building near the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv. Israeli media reported that fragments of a drone, commonly used by Iranian-backed militia groups in the region, were found nearby.

Since the onset of the Gaza war, Israel has been engaged in daily exchanges of missile and artillery fire with Hezbollah along its northern border and in southern Lebanon, raising fears of a broader regional conflict if the situation escalates. The Houthis have also intensified their attacks against Israel and Western targets, proclaiming their actions as a show of solidarity with the Palestinians.

Israel’s incursion into the Gaza Strip followed an assault by Hamas militants on southern Israel in October of the previous year. This ongoing conflict has prompted a series of retaliatory actions and heightened tensions across the region.

On October 7, 2023, gunmen affiliated with the Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the international community, executed an attack in southern Israeli towns and military installations reminiscent of ISIS-style operations. This assault resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 individuals. The Israeli military reports that the group is currently holding 253 hostages in Gaza.

In response, Israel launched a major offensive aimed at dismantling the Hamas leadership in Gaza, vowing to eliminate the militant group in retaliation for what has been described as the deadliest Palestinian attack in Israeli history.

Hamas is designated a terrorist organization by several countries and entities, including the United States, Canada, Egypt, the European Union, Israel, and Japan.

Recent estimates from Gaza health officials linked to Hamas suggest that over 35,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing conflict. However, these figures are considered unreliable due to the officials’ close association with Hamas.

(With files from Reuters)