At least one dead & 10 injured as Tel Aviv rocked by ‘drone’ strike & Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim responsibility

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AT LEAST one person has reportedly died after a drone attack in Tel Aviv as Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim responsibility for the “military operation”.

The blast left a building crumbling near the US Embass with 10 people being rushed to hospital, according to Israel’s national emergency agency.

Police standby at the site of an explosion, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, in Tel-Aviv, Israel July 19, 2024. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
Armed police stand outside a building that was rocked in the blast
Reuters
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Smoke was seen in the air on Friday morning after the blasts rocked Israel[/caption]

People gather at the scene of an deadly explosion in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Erik Marmor)
Residents were left on the streets after the blasts ripped through Tel Aviv
An investigator inspects a damaged window of a building at the site of an explosion, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict in Tel Aviv, Israel July 19, 2024. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
A cop inspects a smashed window at the site of the explosion
Reuters

The explosion happened at around 3:15am on Friday morning with pictures showing the blast left windows shattered and debris falling from multi-storey buildings.

A 37-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were reportedly hit by flying glass shrapnel – leaving them needing treatment.

A man was found dead in an apartment near to the explosion with police investigating whether it was related to the blast.

The Israeli military say it has opened up an investigation into the large explosion.

Air patrols have also been increased over the city.

Air defence systems were not activated in the city leaving officials rocked by the blast.

Waring sirens were also not sounded – leaving residents fleeing buildings to safety.

Many were forced out onto the streets as they watched thick plumes of smoke in the sky after the explosion erupted.

Israel’s air force has increased patrols to “protect the country’s skies”, the military added in a post on social media.

Tel Aviv District Commander Peretz Amar said officers haven’t been able to locate the exact point of contact of the blast yet.

A Houthi spokesperson announced today: “The UAV force of the Yemeni Armed Forces,  with the help of Allah Almighty, carried out a specific military operation, which consisted of targeting one of the important targets in the occupied Jaffa region, what is now called Israeli Tel Aviv.

“The operation was carried out with a new drone called Yafa which is capable of bypassing the enemy’s interception systems and undetectable by radars.

“The operation has achieved its goals successfully.”

The militant group claim the attack is in solidarity with terrorist organisation Hamas and the people of Gaza.

Gaza has faced daily bombardment from the Israeli military since the horrific October 7 massacre by Hamas that saw 1,200 people murdered.

Israel has vowed to continue to get revenge until all Hamas members are eliminated.

Just hours before the suspected drone strike Israel’s military confirmed they had killed a Hezbollah commander and other militants in an airstrike in southern Lebanon.

Israeli police and first responders gather at the scene of a deadly explosion in Tel Aviv, Israel, early Friday, July 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Erik Marmor)
At least 10 people were taken to hospital, say Israeli officials
Emergency personnel gather at the site of an explosion, amid the Israel-Hamas conflict in Tel Aviv, Israel July 19, 2024. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
Emergency officials and cops gather round the street
Reuters