The Israel Defense Forces confirmed on Wednesday night it intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle “launched from the east,” with Hebrew media reporting the drone was sent by Yemen’s Houthi terrorists.
“A short time ago, the Air Force intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle that was launched from the east,” the military stated on X, adding: “Alerts were activated in accordance with policy.”
According to reports, the UAV fell near the Negev Desert agricultural community of Be’er Milka, located close to Israel’s border with Egypt. No damages or casualties were reported in the attempted drone strike.
On Tuesday night, the IDF intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen by the Iranian-backed Houthis. The attack triggered air-raid sirens across central Israel, including in Tel Aviv, as well as several southern communities. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
The Houthis have escalated their assaults on the Jewish state in recent weeks, including a hit close to Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion International Airport on May 4.
In response, the Israel Air Force struck Sana’a International Airport on May 28, destroying the last operational aircraft used by the Houthis. The strike followed a previous operation on May 6 that targeted the airport.
“This is a clear message and a direct continuation of the policy we established: Whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price,” Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed after the latest strikes in Yemen.