A deadly drone attack struck central Tel Aviv early this morning, resulting in the death of one man and injuries to at least eight others. The incident occurred when a block of flats was hit by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which Israeli military officials have identified as Iranian-made and modified for long-distance flight.

The Houthi movement in Yemen has claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place at 03:12 (00:12 GMT). This claim marks a significant escalation in the Houthis' attacks on Israel, which have intensified following Israel's recent military campaign in Gaza. This campaign was itself a response to a major Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October.

Israeli military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari indicated that initial investigations suggest the drone originated from Yemen, over 1,000 miles (1,600km) away. If confirmed, this would be the first time a Houthi missile or drone has successfully reached Tel Aviv, with previous attempts being intercepted.

Despite detecting the incoming drone, Israeli defence forces did not attempt to shoot it down due to "human error." The drone, captured on dramatic video footage, flew over the Mediterranean Sea and central Tel Aviv before the explosion. The attack occurred near a branch of the US embassy, leaving a building with blown-out windows and damaged cars and debris on the street below.

"The Israeli defense establishment is in a state of complete shock," said Yonah Jeremy Bob, senior military correspondent for the Jerusalem Post. He added, "Though the writing was on the wall, no one saw it coming from a couple thousand kilometers away."

A military spokesman for the Houthis, Yahya Saree, claimed the strike was conducted with a new drone capable of evading interception systems. He warned that Tel Aviv, Israel's commercial capital, has now become "an unsafe area" and "a primary target within the range of our weapons."

In response to the attack, the Israeli military has increased air patrols, and Tel Aviv's mayor has declared a high alert status across the city. Alon, a local resident, described the impact of the explosion to Haaretz newspaper: "The whole building shook. My neighbours' windows shattered, so I was sure something had hit the building. It was only when I went outside that I realised that several buildings had been damaged."

This incident follows the Israeli military's confirmation of the killing of a senior Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon. Tensions between Hezbollah and Israel have been high, with exchanges of fire across the border since Hezbollah launched rockets in response to Israel's offensive on Gaza.

Both Hezbollah and the Houthis, which are backed by Iran, have stated their actions are in solidarity with the Palestinians. As Tel Aviv and its residents cope with the aftermath of this unprecedented attack, the Israeli defense forces are committed to preventing further incidents.