Host - Huthi drone hits Tel Aviv - a dead and wounded
At the impact site of a combat drone in the heart of Tel Aviv, a man has been killed. At least eight other people were injured, as the drone loaded with explosives crashed into a residential building near a US embassy annex, Magen David Adom reported on the X online platform. According to the army, the long-range drone originated from Yemen.
The explosion site could hardly have been more central; it is the historic center of the Mediterranean metropolis. The sandy beaches are world-renowned and a hub of urban life. Along the beach promenade, there are many international hotels where people from the northern part of Israel have been housed since the war began, who had to be evacuated due to rocket fire from the Hisbollah militia in Lebanon.
In the densely populated streets that follow, there are many shopping opportunities, restaurants, and street cafes. Near the impact site was also the US embassy, which was moved there under former US President Donald Trump in 2018.
Israel's Defense Minister Joav Galant threatened retaliation for the attack. "The Defense Ministry is working on an immediate strengthening of all defense systems and will account for every entity that causes damage to the State of Israel or carries out terror against it," Galant stated in a statement released by his office.
According to the Israeli army, it was a long-range drone that had flown in from the sea and hit the residential building. An internet video circulated showing a drone flying towards the high-rise buildings in Tel Aviv. Shortly thereafter, a bright flash of light and the sound of an explosion could be heard. The drone was detected by air surveillance but was not shot down due to a human error, reported the "Times of Israel" newspaper.
A military spokesperson confirmed on request that there was no air raid siren. "That couldn't have happened," quoted the newspaper an army spokesperson. Tel Aviv has been largely spared from drone attacks so far.
The Huthi militia in Yemen stated that they had attacked a "significant target" in Tel Aviv with a drone. The militia, allied with Iran, described this as retaliation for Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip. A spokesperson said on television that the attack was carried out with a new drone named "Yafa" (Jaffa), which is capable of bypassing Israeli defenses. The militia has prepared a list of further targets in Israel.
- The man who was killed in Tel Aviv was not the first casualty related to the ongoing conflicts between Israel and its neighbors, such as Lebanon and Yemen.
- The drone incident in North Israel, specifically in Tel Aviv, has resulted in increased security measures by Magen David Adom and the Israeli Defense Ministry.
- Joe Galant, Israel's Defense Minister, has expressed concern over the drone attack's impact on the country and has vowed to take necessary action against any entity causing harm to Israel or committing acts of terrorism.
- The attack on Tel Aviv has further strained relations between Israel and Yemen, as the Huthi militia, allied with Iran, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was retaliation for Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip.
- Hotels along the Mediterranean beach promenade in Tel Aviv have been housing northern Israel residents since the start of the conflicts with Lebanon, providing temporary shelter for those affected by rocket fire from the Hisbollah militia.
- The Mediterranean metropolis of Tel Aviv, known for its sandy beaches and vibrant urban life, has largely been spared from drone attacks until now, making the recent incident a significant concern for the country's security.
