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Early Friday morning, a drone strike launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted Tel Aviv, causing one fatality and injuring at least ten individuals. This incident marks the first lethal attack by the Houthis on Israeli soil.
The Iranian-made drone, identified as a Samad-3 model, struck near the U.S. Embassy, causing extensive damage, including shattered windows and damaged vehicles across a large area. The attack penetrated Israel’s extensive air defences, which have intercepted most drones and rockets launched from Yemen since the conflict in Gaza began. Despite previous successful interceptions, this drone evaded the defence system, highlighting a significant lapse in protective measures.
Israeli military officials are currently investigating the failure of the interception. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed that while the drone was detected, it was not intercepted due to a “failure,” with some sources attributing the issue to “human error.”
The military has not yet determined whether the drone exploded in the air or upon impact with the buildings.
The Houthi spokesperson, Yahya Sare’e, claimed responsibility for the attack via a statement on the social media platform X. He indicated that the strike was a retaliation for Israel’s actions in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The attack comes on the heels of Israel’s confirmation of an airstrike in southern Lebanon that killed a Hezbollah commander and other militants, and just days before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address Congress in Washington. The strike also follows recent discussions on a potential cease-fire, which aims to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of approximately 120 Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The U.S. State Department confirmed that its embassy and staff sustained no damage or injuries. However, the incident has heightened concerns that the Gaza conflict might expand into a wider regional conflict.
Analysts warn that such attacks could undermine ongoing cease-fire negotiations and exacerbate regional tensions. The conflict has displaced most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and triggered widespread hunger.