Houthi Drone Attack Targets Tel Aviv: Casualties and Military Response

Houthi Drone Attack in Tel Aviv

The Iran-backed Houthi militia has claimed responsibility for a rare and significant drone strike in central Tel Aviv. The attack, which occurred early Friday, targeted a building located near the United States Embassy branch office, resulting in the death of at least one individual and injuries to eight others.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for the Israeli military, addressed reporters, revealing that Israel’s defense systems had detected the incoming drone but failed to classify it as a threat. As a result, no air-raid sirens were activated to alert the civilian population, despite Israel’s extensive air defense capabilities. “We are investigating why we did not identify it, attack it, and intercept it,” Admiral Hagari stated.

The Israeli military speculated that the drone most likely originated from Yemen, the home base of the Houthis, before making its way towards Tel Aviv from the coastal region. Footage shared on X and subsequently verified by The New York Times depicted what appeared to be an unmanned aerial vehicle approaching west of Tel Aviv, culminating in a significant explosion at the strike location.

There are conflicting narratives regarding the type of drone employed in the attack. Houthi spokesman Nasruddin Amer asserted in an interview that the drone, referred to as Yaffa, was entirely manufactured in Yemen and had never been used in combat operations prior to this incident. He claimed that the drone was equipped with advanced technologies that rendered it challenging to detect.

Conversely, Admiral Hagari informed the press that the drone was a Samad-3, an Iranian model that had been modified for long-range operations. He refuted claims that it possessed stealth capabilities that allowed it to evade Israeli surveillance systems.

Mr. Amer emphasized that the drone strike was a direct response to what he described as “an escalation in massacres against the Palestinian people in Gaza.” He indicated that the Houthis would cease their attacks only when the ongoing conflict in Gaza comes to an end and Israel lifts its blockade of the region. Although he mentioned that Iran was not directly involved in the decision to execute the drone strike on Tel Aviv, he confirmed that the Houthis informed Iranian officials afterward about the operation.