Israel Investigate Alleged Human Error That Made The Houthi Drone Escape Hit Tel Aviv

Israeli Iron Dome/DOK Defense Forces via WIkimedia Commons

JAKARTA - Israeli authorities are investigating a potential security breach in the vicinity of a deadly drone explosion in Tel Aviv that killed one person and injured 10 others.

The attack was claimed by Houthi rebels in Yemen, which Iranian proxy groups say is a response to Israel's war in Gaza.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Sare 'e said the operation was carried out by a new drone capable of passing through enemy interception systems.

"We will continue to attack these targets in response to the massacre of enemies and daily crimes against our brothers and sisters in the Gaza Strip," Sare said.

Our operation will only stop when aggression stops and the siege of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is lifted, "he added.

The attack marks the first time Tel Aviv, Israel's commercial hub, was attacked by a drone in an attack claimed by the Houthis.

In a televised briefing on Friday, July 20, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel kazi said the military suspected the drone was an Iranian-made Samad-3 model.

The drone was launched from Yemen, which has been upgraded to expand its reach.

The second drone was intercepted outside Israeli territory in the east at the same time as the attack, he said. IDF spokesman stressed Israel is now increasing its air defenses and increasing air patrols on its borders.

An Israeli military official said the drone was detected by an Israeli air defense system, but was not intercepted due to human error.

The plane was armed with a warhead and crashed into an apartment building, the official added, without providing further details regarding the device's cargo.

The official did not provide details on what human error meant, but he stressed that Israel's air defense system does not always operate independently.

Iron Dome's defense system, for example, can operate in manual mode, where its radar detects and tracks incoming threats but requires input from the operator before launching the interceptor missile.

"According to the initial investigation, no sirens were activated" during the incident, the previous IDF said.

Jack Lew, the US Ambassador to Israel, said he was shocked by the "less teaching" Houthi drone attack and offered condolences to the families of the victims.

"We are grateful that the personnel of the branch office of the US Embassy are safe," he added.