Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Sep 25: At least 20 people were injured — two of them critically — when a drone launched from Yemen struck the southern Israeli resort city of Eilat on Wednesday evening, according to Israel’s military and emergency medical services.

The attack occurred during Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year, when Eilat is usually bustling with vacationers. The drone exploded in a busy tourist area near the Club Hotel, a popular beachfront complex, causing panic and chaos in the area.

Magen David Adom, Israel’s national ambulance service, reported that two victims in their 60s suffered severe injuries to their limbs, while another man sustained moderate injuries from shrapnel. The remaining casualties were treated for minor wounds, including bruises and shrapnel-related injuries.

State broadcaster Kan reported that Israel's air defense system attempted to intercept the drone twice but failed, allowing the aircraft to reach its target in the heart of the city.

The Houthi movement in Yemen, which controls large parts of the country's north, claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the group had launched two drones before sunset targeting sites in Eilat. He described the strike as part of a broader campaign, marking the second drone attack on the city in less than 24 hours. A separate drone attack the day before had hit near a hotel in Eilat, causing property damage but no injuries.

The Houthis have intensified drone and missile attacks on southern Israel, particularly Eilat, since the onset of the Israel-Gaza conflict. Eilat, located at the tip of the Red Sea, has become a recurring target due to its strategic location and symbolic value.

In response to Houthi aggression, Israel has carried out multiple airstrikes on Houthi-held territory in Yemen. Last week, Israeli jets targeted military infrastructure at the port of Hodeida. In a separate strike last month, Israel reportedly killed several top Houthi officials, including the group's prime minister, in an attack on the capital Sanaa — an operation Israeli officials described as the beginning of a wider campaign against Houthi leadership.

Tensions in the region remain high as Israel continues to face cross-border threats amid its ongoing conflict in Gaza.