One killed, several injured in Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv

New Delhi: Yemen’s Houthi group has taken responsibility for a drone attack on Tel Aviv, which resulted in one fatality and left at least ten people injured. On Friday, a spokesperson for the Iran-aligned Houthi armed forces announced on social media that the group had targeted "Tel Aviv in occupied Palestine," using a new type of drone. The spokesperson claimed this drone could bypass interceptor systems and evade radar detection.

Israeli military response

Following the large explosion near the United States embassy office in Tel Aviv, the Israeli military launched an investigation to understand why the country's air defence systems failed to intercept the "aerial target." "We’re talking about a large UAV [Unmanned Aerial Vehicle] that can fly long distances," a military official stated during a briefing, adding that no possibilities are being ruled out at this time. 

The Israeli air force has since increased patrols to safeguard the nation’s airspace. The military conveyed via social media that steps are being taken to "protect the country’s skies."

مشاهد جديدة من مكان وقوع الانفجار وسط تل أبيب#الجزيرة #فيديو pic.twitter.com/GM5BQf3TIS

— الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) July 19, 2024

On-the-Ground Impact

Israeli police discovered the body of a man in an apartment near the explosion site. The incident is under investigation. Footage from the blast scene showed shattered glass scattered across pavements, with crowds of onlookers gathering near a building marked by the explosion. The area has been cordoned off with police tape.

Political reactions

Israeli opposition politician Yair Lapid criticised the current government in the wake of the attack. "This is further proof that this government does not know and cannot provide security to the citizens of Israel," Lapid said. "Those who lose deterrence in the north and south also lose it in the heart of Tel Aviv. There are no policies, no plans, just public relations and internal discussions. They have to go," the Yesh Atid party leader wrote on X.

Houthi and Hezbollah attacks

The Houthis have a history of launching drones and missiles towards Israel and targeting Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, expressing support for Palestinians amid Israel’s conflict with Gaza. Until this recent attack, all Houthi attempts to strike Israel had been intercepted by Israeli defenses or Western allies stationed in the region, according to The Associated Press.

In addition, Hezbollah in southern Lebanon has intensified its attacks against military targets in northern Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza, which has resulted in nearly 39,000 fatalities.