On Friday, Yemen’s Houthi militia claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Tel Aviv that resulted in one death and ten injuries.
The rebels, known for their numerous attacks on Red Sea shipping since the onset of the Gaza war in October, announced through their “UAV force” that they targeted “one of the important sites in the occupied Jaffa region, now known as Israeli Tel Aviv.”
Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree emphasized in a televised speech that Tel Aviv is a key target within their weaponry’s range.
According to Israeli media, an initial military investigation revealed that an explosive-laden drone had been detected but was not intercepted by air defenses due to human error.
**Tel Aviv on High Alert**
The attack is expected to heighten concerns about the broader implications of the Gaza conflict, with the Houthis and other Iranian-backed factions aligning with Hamas.
In response, the Israeli military has increased air patrols to safeguard Israeli airspace but has not implemented additional civil defense measures. However, Tel Aviv’s mayor announced that the city, a major economic hub, is now under heightened alert.
The Israeli military is investigating the early morning drone strike on central Tel Aviv, which did not activate air raid sirens. Emergency services discovered the body of a 50-year-old man near the explosion site; the cause of death is under investigation. Four individuals with minor shrapnel injuries and four others suffering from shock were treated at a hospital and later released.
Footage from the scene shows damage to a building near the U.S. embassy premises, with broken glass scattered across the pavements and onlookers gathered nearby. The area has been cordoned off by police.
The explosion occurred shortly after the Israeli military confirmed the death of a senior commander from the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon.
The Israeli military stated, “An initial investigation suggests that the Tel Aviv explosion resulted from a falling aerial target, and no sirens were triggered. The incident is under comprehensive review.”
Hezbollah and the Houthis have intensified their attacks against Israel and Western targets, citing solidarity with Palestinians following Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip in response to a Hamas attack on southern Israel.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP, and Reuters)