Rescuers say 20 people have been injured in southern Israel after the Israeli military reported a drone launched from Yemen struck the resort town of Eilat on the Red Sea coast. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed attempts were made to intercept the incoming drone.
According to Magen David Adom, the emergency medical service, 20 individuals have been transported to Yoseftal Hospital, with two suffering from serious limb injuries.
While Israeli media has attributed the attack to the Houthi group, the Yemeni organization has not officially claimed responsibility. Eyewitness footage broadcasted by Israeli networks showed smoke rising from the strike location, and social media images showed the drone descending before the explosion.
In response to the incident, IDF troops and police were dispatched to the area for evacuations, and helicopters were utilized to transport the wounded. The military advised people to seek shelter for 10 minutes in case of alerts.
This drone strike could represent one of the deadliest Houthi attacks on Israeli territory, echoing previous concerns about the group's increasing boldness in targeting the country amidst the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
In recent months, Eilat has experienced a series of drone attacks, with a previous incident occurring just a week prior without reported casualties. The ongoing conflict has seen the Houthi group engaging in missile strikes towards Israel, framing their actions as solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza war, which has seen them carry out attacks on maritime vessels in the Red Sea as well.
The backdrop of this escalating violence includes Israeli retaliation in the form of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen, with significant casualties reported on both sides from recent confrontations.
