Houthi Drone Evades Detection, Hits Residential Building South of Tel Aviv; No Injuries Reported

Dec 9, 2024, 08:15 AM

On December 9, 2024, a drone launched from Yemen struck a residential high-rise building in Yavne, south of Tel Aviv, Israel, causing damage but no reported injuries. The Israeli military confirmed that the drone, likely launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, hit the building without prior warning sirens. Footage shows the drone flying over the area before the explosion, and surveillance cameras captured the moment of impact. The drone is believed to have taken a long route over Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea before entering Israeli airspace undetected. The incident marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, as it is the second consecutive day that missiles or drones have been fired from Yemen towards Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces are investigating how the drone evaded detection and why air defenses did not intercept it. The Yemeni Armed Forces, in a joint operation with the Iraqi Islamic Resistance, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they targeted a sensitive site in Yavne using a drone.