Tel Aviv [Israel], September 25: The Israeli military accused an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) launched from Yemen of attacking the city of Eilat on September 24, injuring more than 20 people.
In a statement, the Israeli military said a UAV launched from Yemen "crashed in the Eilat area" on the Red Sea coast after air defense systems failed to intercept it, according to AFP.
Israel's Magen David Adom emergency medical services organization said its teams treated 22 wounded people, including two men in critical condition from shrapnel wounds.
In addition, police announced that the UAV crashed in the center of Eilat city, causing damage to an area frequented by tourists.
Footage shared on social media shows a UAV flying overhead before crashing into an area in Eilat, with smoke rising from the area.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for the drone attack on Eilat. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the group launched two drones at two targets in southern Israel.
Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri has called on the Israeli government to "hit the Houthis hard" in retaliation for the drone attack. In an interview with Israel's Channel 12, Lankri said the repeated Houthi attacks had disrupted operations at Eilat's port.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said: "Any attack on Israeli cities will be met with a heavy and painful blow to the Houthi terrorist regime, as has happened before."
Israel has carried out numerous airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, and last month assassinated the head of the Houthi government along with 11 other senior officials.
The Houthis have repeatedly launched drones and missiles at Israel since the Hamas-Israel conflict erupted in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, claiming that their actions were in support of Hamas and in solidarity with the Palestinians.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
