Overview

• An explosive drone launched from Yemen struck Eilat’s hotel and shopping district near the Mall HaYam, wounding 22 people, two of them seriously, with many suffering shrapnel injuries, according to Magen David Adom.
• The Israel Defense Forces said two Iron Dome interceptors were fired but failed to stop the very low‑flying UAV, and the air force has opened an investigation into the air‑defense failure.
• The Houthi movement said it fired two drones toward Israel, as the group continues long‑range attacks it frames as support for Palestinians; recent incidents include strikes near a hotel in Eilat and at Ramon Airport.
• On Sept. 25, Israel carried out air and naval strikes on Houthi-held targets in Sanaa, with Defense Minister Israel Katz saying command centers, drone depots and training sites were hit and vowing those who harm Israel will be punished.
• The exchange underscores the growing risk of the Gaza war widening to the Red Sea theater, where Houthi forces have targeted Israel and shipping since late 2023, even as Israel’s layered defenses face challenges from very low‑altitude UAVs.