A Houthi drone struck a tourist area in the Israeli city of Eilat, injuring 19 people including two seriously and two moderately, Israeli television reported on September 25.

The Israeli Defence Forces initially stated that "alerts were activated regarding the infiltration of a hostile aircraft in Eilat, and details are under review."

The drone fell in a tourist area of Eilat, with most injuries caused by panic following the explosion. The attack occurred on the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah with many people holidaying the edge of the Red Sea.

Israeli police said "a drone fell in central Eilat and resulted in casualties and material damage, and we are conducting a field assessment of the situation."

Israel Hayom newspaper reported that "two interceptor missiles from the Iron Dome failed to intercept the drone in Eilat."

Channel 13 reported that "the air force will investigate the reason for the delay in detecting the drone and the failure to intercept it."

This marks another successful penetration of Israeli air defences by Houthi forces, raising questions about the effectiveness of the Iron Dome system against slower-moving drones.

Since the Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas's attack on southern Israel, the Houthis have regularly launched ballistic missiles and drones towards Israel, which are usually intercepted. 

The Houthis say their attacks are part of their "support for Palestinians in Gaza." Israel has responded for months with strikes targeting Houthi positions, infrastructure and leaders in Yemen.

Days earlier, a drone launched from Yemen fell in the hotel area of Eilat without causing casualties, demonstrating the persistent threat posed by Houthi long-range capabilities despite Israeli military responses.