A drone launched from Yemen struck Eilat on Wednesday evening. Initial reports indicate that a drone struck the tourist district near the "Mall Hayam" shopping center.
Magen David Adom teams evacuated 48 casualties: a 70-year-old man in serious condition with a partial amputation of his upper limbs, a 21-year-old man in serious condition with shrapnel wounds to the chest, one person in moderate condition, 18 in mild condition, and two suffering from anxiety.
The Israeli Air Force said attempts were made to intercept the drone before it fell in the city's tourism district. Security officials are investigating how the aircraft evaded Israel's multilayered air defense systems and exploded in such a crowded area.
Video: The moment the drone struck Eilat
The incident triggered sirens in Eilat as residents reported hearing multiple explosions. Police units cordoned off the impact site, and bomb disposal experts were dispatched to determine whether debris at the scene came from an interceptor missile or the unmanned aircraft itself.
The IDF confirmed that the drone had been launched from Yemen and fell within the Eilat area. Search and rescue forces were deployed immediately after the impact.
The attack sparked concern among security officials given the location of the explosion, directly across from one of Eilat's busiest shopping malls, packed with tourists and locals. The air force is now conducting a full investigation into how the hostile drone managed to bypass Israel's air defenses.
