Police probe possible drone attack on Tel Aviv
(Video: Yoav Vazana)
A 50-year-old man was killed, and four others were injured in an apparent drone strike on Tel Aviv early Friday morning. The massive blast, which was heard all across central Tel Aviv near the U.S. Consulate, is under investigation by the IDF and police to determine whether a drone crashed in the city. No siren was activated before the explosion.
"An initial inquiry indicates that the explosion in Tel Aviv was caused by the falling of an aerial target," the IDF said in a statement. "The IAF has increased its air patrols to protect Israeli airspace. There is no change in the defensive guidelines of the Home Front Command."
The police are investigating the death of a man in his 50s, whose body was found with shrapnel wounds in a nearby building. Emergency teams reported at least four people with minor injuries from shrapnel and several others suffering from shock. Seven people were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
"When our teams arrived, they saw a 37-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman with shrapnel wounds to their extremities and shoulders. We are also treating people suffering from shock," said Magen David Adom (MDA), the emergency response service.
Residents reported the blast caused significant damage to their homes. "The entire building shook," one resident said. The explosion was heard around the city and in neighboring towns to the south and east.
"I was on the beach with friends when we heard this crazy explosion," Aharon, an eyewitness, told Ynet. "We did not hear a siren or any other warning," he added.
"I live about 30 meters from there. I heard a very loud explosion," said Yossi, another witness. "I thought a truck had crashed, but then people rushed over, and the smell left no doubt about the cause. There are markings on the buildings that were damaged," he noted.
Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for a high-value attack in a statement, adding that they would provide more details in the coming hours.
Meanwhile, the IDF confirmed it had killed a commander of Hezbollah's Radwan force in a strike on South Lebanon earlier. "During the strike, a Radwan Force 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. These terrorists orchestrated numerous attacks against Israel. Moreover, additional 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.