Huthi Drone Attack in Eilat Injures 22 on Jewish New Year
Drone Attack Hits Eilat on Jewish New Year, 22 Injured
EILAT, Israel – Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a drone attack that struck the Israeli resort city of Eilat on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
According to the Israeli military, the drone “fell in the area of Eilat” along the Red Sea coast after air defenses failed to intercept it, marking the second such incident in just a few days.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services reported treating 22 casualties. Two men, aged 26 and 60, were in serious condition with shrapnel wounds. One person suffered a moderate injury to the back, while 19 others were lightly injured, mostly from shrapnel.
Police confirmed the drone crashed in Eilat’s city center, causing damage in areas popular with tourists. Footage circulating on social media, which AFP could not independently verify, showed a drone flying over the resort before crashing and sending smoke into the air.
Huthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement that the group had launched two drones targeting southern Israel.
Eilat Mayor Eli Lankri condemned the attack and called on the government to “strike the Huthis hard” in retaliation. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 12, he added that repeated Huthi attacks had disrupted operations at Eilat’s port.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also warned of a strong response, stating, “Any attack on Israel’s cities will be met with a harsh and painful blow against the Huthi terror regime, as has been shown before.”
Earlier, air raid sirens sounded across Eilat, a popular resort town near the Egyptian and Jordanian borders. Authorities reported a similar drone strike in the city just a few days ago.
Israel has carried out multiple air raids on Huthi-controlled areas in Yemen, including last month’s targeted killing of the head of the Huthi government and 11 senior officials.
Since the start of the war in Gaza, Yemen’s Houthis have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at Israel, citing support for their Palestinian ally Hamas, which attacked Israel in October 2023.
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