Houthi drone strikes Israel's Eilat, wounding 22 as air defences fail
A drone launched from Yemen struck the southern Israeli resort city of Eilat on Wednesday, wounding 22 people after air defences failed to intercept it; the Houthis claimed responsibility.
A drone launched from Yemen struck the southern Israeli resort city of Eilat on Wednesday evening, wounding 22 people after Israel’s air defences failed to intercept it, Israel’s military and emergency services said.
The Israeli military said the drone “fell in the area of Eilat” on the Red Sea coast, the second such incident in days, after air defences failed to stop it. Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency medical service said its teams had treated 22 casualties, including two men, aged 26 and 60, in serious condition with shrapnel wounds. One person was moderately injured and 19 others were in light condition. Police said the drone fell in Eilat’s city centre, in an area frequented by tourists. The attack occurred on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, when Eilat is typically crowded with holidaymakers.
The Houthi group in Yemen claimed responsibility. Military spokesman Yahya Saree told Al Jazeera Arabic that the operation was carried out with a number of drones and “successfully achieved its objectives”, targeting areas including Eilat and Beersheba.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation, saying any attack on Israeli cities would be met with a “painful blow to the Houthi regime”, while Defence Minister Israel Katz warned the Houthis on X: “Whoever harms Israel will be harmed sevenfold.” Eilat mayor Eli Lankri called on the government to “strike the Houthis hard”.
The Iran-backed Houthis have launched missiles and drones at Israel repeatedly since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, saying they act in support of Palestinians. Most previous attacks were intercepted or caused minimal damage; this is among the group’s most damaging in terms of casualties.
Sources
- The Straits Times — Yemen drone attack wounds 22 in Israeli resort town: Army, rescuers
- Xinhua — Yemen’s Houthis take responsibility for drone attack on Israeli resort city
- WION — Houthi drone attack hits Israel’s Eilat city; at least 20 people injured
- Economic Times — Houthi drone from Yemen strikes Israel’s Eilat; over 20 reported injured
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