IDF downs drone over Eilat launched by Yemen’s Houthis
No injuries or damage in attack by Iran-backed rebel group shortly after midnight; incident follows firing of ballistic missiles by Houthis earlier, during escalation with Iran
A drone launched at Israel by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen was intercepted by air defenses over the southernmost city of Eilat early Tuesday, the Israel Defense Forces said.
Sirens sounded in Eilat during the incident, which took place shortly after midnight.
There were no reports of injuries or damage.
On Monday morning, the Houthis had fired two ballistic missiles at Israel.
The IDF said one was intercepted and the second failed to reach the country.
The Iran-backed rebel group also said on Monday it would ban ships linked to Israel from the Red Sea, after fighting between Jerusalem and Tehran resumed.
A drone launched at Israel by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen was intercepted by air defenses over the southernmost city of Eilat a short while ago, the military says. pic.twitter.com/BkEaAQ0dMV
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 8, 2026
The Houthis – whose slogan calls for “death to America, death to Israel,” and “a curse on the Jews” – control a large swath of Yemen, but are at war with its internationally recognized government.
They first began attacking Israel and maritime traffic in November 2023, a month after the October 7 Hamas-led massacre.
Amid ceasefires between Israel and Hamas — between January and March 2025, and since October 2025 — the Houthis largely held their fire.
While Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran-backed groups in Iraq joined the current war with Iran early, with rocket and drone fire on Israel and other targets, the Houthis were comparatively quiet until this week, firing on Israel sporadically.
Their recent attacks came after an escalation in the conflict. After a Hezbollah attack on northern Israel drew Israeli airstrikes in Beirut on Sunday, Iran started directly attacking Israel for the first time in two months, with salvos of ballistic missiles, drawing retaliatory Israeli airstrikes in Iran.
By the end of Monday, both Israel and Iran said the exchange of fire was over, with each threatening to resume attacks if the other side renewed it.
The Israeli stand-down came amid pressure from US President Donald Trump, who cited talks between Washington and Tehran that he said were “very close” to bearing fruit before the latest fighting.
The Times of Israel Community.