A drone launched from Yemen struck a hotel in Eilat, igniting a fire and triggering a state of emergency.
A drone struck a hotel in the southern Israeli city of Eilat on Thursday evening, igniting a fire and causing a state of emergency in the area, Israeli media reported.
The incident marked one of the most significant cross-border attacks on the city since the start of the war.
According to the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, the drone was launched from Yemen and detonated at the entrance of the hotel.
Images widely circulated on social media showed flames spreading across one of the upper floors as emergency services rushed to the scene to contain the blaze.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing the air raid sirens moments before the explosion, while security forces quickly sealed off the surrounding area.
🚨 JUST IN: Kamikaze Drone from Yemen impacts in Eilat area. pic.twitter.com/TtRtqDBXrW
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) September 18, 2025
Following the strike, the Israeli military announced the postponement of a scheduled statement by the army spokesman, fueling speculation over the extent of the damage and the seriousness of the attack.
In parallel, Israeli Army Radio confirmed that about an hour after the Eilat strike, the air force intercepted a second drone approaching from Yemen.
The army later claimed that it also intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, while residents in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv reported hearing air raid sirens triggered by the detection of the projectile.
The attacks represent a widening of the confrontation front. Eilat, located on the Red Sea near the borders with Jordan and Egypt, has come under intermittent fire since the war began, but Thursday’s strike is among the first to cause visible damage to a civilian structure in the city.
The Home Front Command declared a state of emergency in Eilat as fire crews battled the flames and evacuated parts of the building.
The Israeli military has not yet disclosed casualties or detailed damage assessments.
(PC, AJA)
