A drone launched from Yemen struck the southern Israeli city of Eilat, leaving at least 20 people injured, including two in serious condition, medics said. The attack came days after another Houthi drone struck a hotel in the Red Sea resort city.Among the injured were two men, aged 60 and 26, listed in serious condition, a 30-year-old in moderate condition, and 19 others with light wounds. Most of the casualties were caused by shrapnel, according to Times of Israel. An Israeli Air Force helicopter evacuated the seriously wounded to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba, while others were treated at Eilat’s Yoseftal Medical Center, the country’s smallest general hospital.Footage from the scene showed the drone impact near a hotel in a shopping district. The Israeli military confirmed that two Iron Dome interceptors had been launched but failed to stop the drone. Sirens were sounded in the city “according to protocol.”There was no immediate claim of responsibility, though the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have regularly targeted Eilat with drones and missiles, often claiming solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Just last week, a Houthi drone struck the entrance of a hotel in the city, causing damage but no injuries. Earlier this month, another attack hit Ramon Airport outside Eilat, leaving one person lightly hurt. Since March 18, when Israel resumed its offensive against Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis have fired nearly 90 ballistic missiles and at least 40 drones at Israel. In response, the Israeli Air Force has struck military infrastructure in Yemen, including a raid last week on the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida. Last month, an Israeli strike in Sanaa killed the Houthi government’s prime minister and several ministers, with Israel warning that it was “just the beginning” of operations against the group’s leadership.In a post on X, the Israeli Defence Force posted: “Sirens sounding in Eilat following a hostile aircraft infiltration.” Most of these projectiles have either been intercepted by Israeli defenses or landed in open areas without causing injuries.In a post on X, news agency RT posted: “YEMENI drone said to hit HOTEL in port city of Eilat in south Israel.”
