No sirens or alerts were activated before a drone exploded over Tel Aviv early Friday morning, resulting in the death of one man from shrapnel wounds and injuries to at least four others who were treated in area hospitals. Eyewitnesses reported loud humming sounds before the blast.
This incident highlights a significant failure of the IDF's aerial defense systems. In their official response, the military acknowledged the breach: "An initial inquiry indicates that the explosion in Tel Aviv was caused by the falling of an aerial target, and no sirens were activated. The incident is under thorough review. Israeli security forces are currently operating at the scene," the statement read. "The IAF increased its air patrols to protect Israeli airspace. There is no change in the defensive guidelines of the Home Front Command."
It appears that no IDF radar—whether on land, in the air, or at sea—detected the hostile drone as it approached, leaving residents unalerted to the imminent danger near one of Israel's strategic locations, just yards from the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. This oversight represents a severe security lapse at a time when all aerial defense systems should have been on high alert.
The drone's launch origin remains unknown, although Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for the attack. This incident raises serious questions about Israel's preparedness to face such threats in the event of an all-out war, including potential confrontations with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The IDF had confirmed on Thursday that it killed a commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan force in a strike on South Lebanon. "During the strike, a Radwan Force's operations unit commander, the terrorist Ali Jaafar Maatuk, was eliminated, along with an additional commander responsible for the Radwan Force's operations in the Hajir region. The terrorists orchestrated numerous attacks against the State of Israel. Additionally, other Radwan Force terrorists operating from the command centers were also eliminated," the military said in a statement.
According to Lebanese media, five people were killed in an attack targeting a three-story house in southern Lebanon’s Safad El Battikh. Ali Jaafar Maatuk, a commander in Hezbollah’s elite Radwan force, was among the casualties. The Saudi channel Al-Hadath reported that the targeted house was frequently used by Hezbollah operatives.
One challenge in detecting drones is their low flight altitude. Despite this, drones launched from significant distances should still be detectable, underscoring the need for improvements in Israel's aerial defense capabilities.