On September 24, 2025, the southern Israeli city of Eilat, a popular Red Sea resort bordering Jordan and Egypt, was jolted by a drone attack that left at least 22 people injured, including two in serious condition. The drone, launched from Yemen, struck near stores and restaurants during the final hours of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, catching many off guard and raising urgent questions about Israel’s air defense preparedness.
According to Reuters and the Israeli national ambulance service Magen David Adom (MDA), two individuals suffered serious injuries, with shrapnel wounds to their limbs and chest, while others sustained moderate to minor injuries. The MDA reported that a 60-year-old man was struck in his limbs and a 26-year-old man suffered chest injuries. Many of the wounded were transported to Yoseftal Hospital for treatment. Emergency responders and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) quickly arrived at the scene, evacuating civilians and providing medical care. An IDF helicopter assisted in transporting the seriously injured.
The Israeli military confirmed that the drone had been launched from Yemen and that interception attempts were made, but ultimately failed. An initial investigation reported by Israel Hayom indicated that air defense systems did not intercept the drone, prompting authorities to warn the public to avoid the crash site due to possible explosives among the debris. The incident marks one of the most severe Houthi drone attacks in terms of casualties, as noted by BBC News.
Responsibility for the attack was swiftly claimed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi group. A spokesperson, Yahya Saree, stated to Al Jazeera Arabic, “The operation was carried out with a number of drones and successfully achieved its objectives. We attacked several Israeli enemy targets in the Umm al-Rashrash and Bir al-Saba’ [now known as Beersheba] areas.” The Houthis described the operation as a “qualitative military operation,” highlighting their intent and capability to strike deep into Israeli territory.
The attack comes on the heels of several previous Houthi attempts to hit Israeli targets. Just days earlier, a drone crashed in Eilat’s hotel zone, causing material damage but no casualties. In early September, another Houthi-launched drone hit Ramon Airport, north of Eilat, injuring one person. In July 2024, a drone attack in Tel Aviv killed one and injured ten. The Houthis have been launching missiles and drones toward Israel since October 2023, in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians during the war in Gaza.
Israel’s response to the growing Houthi threat has been swift and severe. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking after the Eilat attack, promised a harsh reprisal, stating that any attack on Israeli cities would be met “with a painful blow to the Houthi regime.” He revealed that he had discussed with military command ways to improve the city’s defenses against aerial threats. Defense Minister Israel Katz echoed this tough stance, declaring, “The Houthi terrorists refuse to learn from Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza, and will learn the hard way. Whoever harms Israel will be harmed sevenfold.”
Since the escalation of conflict in Gaza, Israel has carried out numerous airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, including the capital Sanaa and the vital Red Sea port of Hodeidah. In late August, Israeli airstrikes killed the Houthi self-proclaimed Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb al-Rahawi, the most senior Houthi figure to die in Israel’s campaign against the group. The Houthis vowed “vengeance” for his death and that of other political leaders, further fueling the cycle of retaliation.
The Houthis, who control the most populous regions of Yemen but are not the country’s internationally recognized government, have also targeted vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting maritime trade and raising tensions in the region. Most of the dozens of missiles and drones launched at Israel have been intercepted or have fallen short, but the recent failures of Israel’s air defense systems—highlighted by the Eilat attack—have sparked concern among officials and the public alike. According to Al Jazeera, Israel is investigating why its interceptors did not operate successfully in this and previous incidents.
The timing of the attack, coinciding with Rosh Hashanah, added to the shock. Israeli TV stations broadcast live footage of smoke billowing from the impact site, while videos circulating on social media, verified by the BBC, showed the drone disappearing behind buildings moments before birds scattered in alarm. The IDF reported that air raid sirens had sounded in Eilat as the drone approached, but the subsequent breach of defenses has prompted a broader review of Israel’s protective measures in its southernmost city.
Beyond the immediate physical damage and injuries, the attack has intensified debate over Israel’s security strategy. Prime Minister Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to bolster air defenses, especially in light of repeated Houthi attacks. He is also under international scrutiny, with an arrest warrant for war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court, though Western allies have so far shielded him from prosecution.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll of the broader conflict continues to mount. The Houthis have said they will halt attacks only when a ceasefire is reached in Gaza, where, according to a UN inquiry panel cited by Al Jazeera, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli offensive began. The Houthis frame their actions as solidarity with the Palestinian cause, but their tactics have drawn widespread condemnation and have further destabilized an already volatile region.
As investigations into the Eilat incident proceed, bomb disposal experts have urged the public to stay clear of the crash site, warning of possible explosives among the remnants. The city’s mayor, in consultation with Netanyahu and the military, is exploring additional measures to protect Eilat’s residents and the many tourists who frequent the area.
With each new strike, the risk of a wider regional conflict grows. The Houthis’ persistent attacks, Israel’s robust retaliations, and the ongoing war in Gaza create a combustible mix with global implications. For now, Eilat’s residents are left to recover from the latest attack—one that has shaken their sense of security and underscored the far-reaching consequences of a conflict that shows no sign of abating.