The incident marks an escalation in regional tensions amid Israel's ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military reported that its air defense systems failed to detect the drone, and no air-raid sirens were triggered prior to the strike. The attack caused damage to several apartments in the building, though no injuries were reported, Israeli media confirmed.
The Israeli army announced an investigation into the failure of its air defense systems and early-warning mechanisms to intercept the drone.
There has been no immediate claim of responsibility from Yemen’s Houthi group, which has previously targeted Israeli sites and associated shipping in solidarity with Gaza.
The Houthis, a Yemen-based group, have conducted drone and missile attacks on Israeli sites and vessels since October 2023, expressing solidarity with Gaza amid what they describe as a "genocidal war" by Israel against the enclave. The group has vowed to continue operations until the military campaign on Gaza ends.
In response to Houthi activities, a U.S.-led coalition has carried out airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen since early 2024. These strikes, aimed at curbing attacks on Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping, have occasionally prompted retaliatory actions by the Houthis.
This latest drone attack underscores the growing regional implications of the Gaza conflict, with ripple effects spreading to neighboring countries and intensifying security challenges for Israel and its allies. (ILKHA)