IDF: Nighttime drone attack launched in Yemen; Israel investigates whether US consulate was targeted

The Israel Defense Forces believe that Yemeni Houthi rebels launched the overnight drone attack that hit Tel Aviv early Friday morning, spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari told a news briefing.

According to Hagari, the drone was an Iranian “Samad-3” model modified in Yemen to maximize its range. The drone traveled a distance of more than 2,000 km, crossing southern Israel, and finally approached Tel Aviv from the Mediterranean Sea, he said.

The Israeli military will conduct a thorough investigation into the attack in the coming days to draw conclusions on how to improve air defense systems and prevent similar attacks in the future.

A residential building in central Tel Aviv was hit by an Iranian drone launched from Yemen, killing at least one civilian and injuring many others.

We will continue to act to better protect Israelis against terrorism on all fronts. pic.twitter.com/SqGdcDRVT7

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) July 19, 2024

THE attack that killed one Israeli and injured eight Others occurred just steps from the U.S. consulate in Tel Aviv.

An Israeli source told Saudi news channel al-Hadath that Israel was investigating whether the consulate was the target of the attack. “We will also look into Iran’s involvement in the drone launch,” the source added.

Apparently not ruling out future Israeli strikes in Yemen, Hagari said the Israeli military would determine “what will be the offensive response required against those who threaten Israel.”

Hagari added that another drone was shot down outside Israel’s eastern borders at the same time as the attack on Tel Aviv, and said: “We are verifying the connection between the two events.”

“Since the beginning of the war, dozens of drones launched from Yemen have been intercepted. The defense is not airtight,” he stressed.

Hagari also commented on the assassination attempt A few days ago, Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif said: “The signs indicating the success of the assassination of Mohammad Deif are multiplying. Rafa’a Salameh has been definitively eliminated, Deif and Salameh were sitting next to each other at the moment of impact. Hamas is hiding what happened to Deif.”

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant conducted an assessment of the operational situation regarding the drone strike, together with security chiefs, including IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.

“The defense apparatus is working to immediately strengthen all defense systems and will settle accounts with anyone who harms the State of Israel or directs terrorism against it,” he said after the meeting.

After the attack, which shocked many Israelis living in the center of the country, which has not been directly affected by the war in recent months, opposition leader Yair Lapid blamed the government.

“The drone crash in Tel Aviv is further proof that this government does not know how to and cannot ensure the security of the citizens of Israel. Those who lose their deterrent capacity in the north and south also lose it in the heart of Tel Aviv,” Lapid wrote on X.

“There is no policy, no plan, it’s all about public relations and talking about themselves. They have to go. We will know how to establish an effective and functioning government that will restore security and power to Israel,” he promised.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir attacked the government from the right wing, demanding a stronger military response to every attack on Israel and reiterating his demand for greater influence over war policy.

“The red line has long been crossed in the north! When you hold back fire on Kiryat Shmona and Sderot, you receive fire on Tel Aviv. This is exactly how the ‘design’ was carried out in Gaza for years. ‘Proportionality’ and ‘containment’ are obscene words when it comes to national security,” Ben Gvir said.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Evgen Kornichuk expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the attack.

“It is truly unfortunate that innocent citizens are being murdered by evil forces who are bent on hurting and harming innocent citizens, including children and women.”

“The same drones are attacking kyiv and Tel Aviv! I once again call on the leaders of the sane Western world to join forces to eradicate the axis of evil! We owe it to our children,” Kornichuk wrote.