Yemen,s Houthi militia on Friday claimed responsibility for an overnight drone attack in tel aviv,wich killed one person and wounded 10 otheres.
A statement from the rebels,who have carried out dozens of attacks against Red sea shipping since the start of the Gaza war in October,their “UAVforce”-referring to unmanned aerial vehicles-attacked one of the important targets in the occupied jaffa region,what is now called isra,eli tel aviv.”
In a televised speech Friday,Houthi spokesperson yahya saree called tel aviv a primary target”Within the range of our weapons”.
An initial isra,eli military investigation into the attack found an explosive laden drone had been identified but not engaged by air defences due to humar error,according to isra,eli media.
Tel Aviv in heightened alert state
The attack on tel aviv is likely to fan fears about further fallout from the Gaza war,as the houthis and other Iranian proxies side with the Palestinian militant group hamas.
The isra,eli military said air patrols had been increased to protect isra,eli airspace but said it had not ordered new civil defecnce measures,however the mayor of tel aviv said the city isra,el economic centre had been moved to a state of heightened alert.
The isra,eli military said it was investigation an apparent drone attack that hit central tel aviv in the early hours of Friday but wich did not trigger the air raid sirens.
Isra,el emergency services said the body a 50 year old man was found in an apartment close the explosion and said the circumstances were being investgated.
Four people were taken to hospital with sligt shrapnel injures and four others were treated for shock.All of then werec later released,the hospital said.
Footage from the site showed an apparent impact on a building located close to US embassy premises in tel aviv.
Broken glass could be seen strewn across the city pavements as crowds of onlookers gathered nearby.The site was sealed off by police tape.
The explosion occurred hours after the Israeli military confirmed it had killed a senior commander of the iran backed Hezbollah militia in southern Lebanon.
“An initial inquiru indicates that the explosion in tel aviv was caused by the falling of an aerial target and no sirens were activated.The incident is under thorough review”the military said in a statement.
Hezbollah and the houthis have stepped up attacks against Israel and western targets,saying they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians after isra,el invaded the Gaza strip following an attack by Hamas militants on southern isra,el.
Source:france24