A drone strike has injured at least twenty people in the southern Israeli city of Eilat, with two individuals reported to be in serious condition. The unmanned aerial vehicle, which authorities say originated from Yemen, crashed in a central area of the popular tourist destination.
Emergency services responded to the scene where the drone impacted near hotel facilities, causing structural damage to multiple rooms. Social media footage circulating online showed the aircraft descending before the collision, followed by plumes of smoke and visible flames.
The incident occurred during the Jewish New Year holiday period, though no group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Local officials have publicly called for strong retaliatory measures against the Houthi movement, which has been repeatedly linked to similar aerial assaults.
Military authorities confirmed that air defense systems were activated in response to the threat, though preliminary investigations suggest the interception attempts were unsuccessful. This marks the second such incident in recent days involving drones reaching the coastal city’s hotel district.
The Houthi organization, which controls significant territory in Yemen, has previously stated that its long-range drone and missile operations represent acts of solidarity with Palestinian causes. While most such projectiles have been intercepted or fallen short of their targets, this latest incident demonstrates the persistent threat to the strategic port city.
The attack comes amid ongoing regional tensions and military operations elsewhere in the region, including continued hostilities in Gaza. Israeli leadership has reiterated its commitment to both military objectives and diplomatic efforts regarding hostages still held in the coastal territory.
