The Houthis from Yemen launched a drone attack that exploded early this morning in Tel Aviv, resulting in 10 injuries and one fatality. The police reported that the blast was heard around 3:10 a.m. and could be heard in nearby cities. Peretz Amar, the head of the Tel Aviv district, stated that the police could not identify the point of impact, suggesting that the explosion happened in mid-air.
The strike happened a few hours after the Israeli military confirmed it had killed a Hezbollah commander and several members in southern Lebanon with an airstrike. Yahya Sare’e, a spokesperson for the Houthis, said on X that the attack was a retaliation for the conflict and aimed at one of the group’s many targets.
The Houthis, backed by Iran and supporting Hamas, control much of Yemen and have been attacking ships in the Red Sea since November 19, 2023.
The Houthis claimed that their latest drones can bypass Israel’s air defense systems. However, an Israeli military official said on Friday that the drone had been detected on Thursday and attributed the strike to “human error.”
Israel has not yet directly engaged with the Houthis, only taking action through its allies (including Greece), and it remains uncertain how it will respond to this strike. The attack could raise fears that the conflict in Gaza might escalate, according to the Associated Press, as international mediators continue to push for a ceasefire.
