September 24 attacks:

• During the late afternoon hours (local time) on September 24, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that a UAV launched from Yemen directly hit southern Israel’s Eilat.  
• Color Red sirens were reportedly sounded for 30-40 seconds prior to the impact, in line with the standard warning time for aerial threats in the city.  
• Reports indicate that the UAV impacted an area near the Club Hotel.  
• Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) stated that 20 individuals were wounded, including two who were seriously wounded, one moderately wounded, and 17 lightly hurt. 
• According to Israeli military correspondents, during the night hours on September 24, the IDF identified a ballistic missile launched by the Houthis toward Israel which fell short outside the country’s borders. In line with protocol, no Color Red sirens were triggered.   

Investigations & Statements:  

• The Houthis’ military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated during the evening hours that the group executed two “military operations” targeting southern Israel’s Eilat and Beer Sheva with UAVs. There was no independent corroboration for the claimed attack in Beer Sheva. 
• Preliminary investigations suggest that the UAV in Eilat was detected late, which may have contributed to the failure of two Iron Dome interceptors that were launched but failed to intercept the UAV.  
• A combat helicopter and fighter jet were also scrambled, but did not have time to intercept the device. 
• The Air Force has tentatively assessed that this was not a new UAV model and there was no failure in Israel’s defense systems.   
• Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that the Houthis “refuse to learn from Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza,” warning that the group will “learn it the hard way” and will be harmed “sevenfold.” 
• According to reports from September 25, the Israeli defense establishment has decided to deploy the Iron Beam laser defense system (also referred to as “Magen Or”) in Eilat.  

Israeli strikes in Yemen: 

• The IDF confirmed that it conducted airstrikes in the Houthi capital Sana’a in Yemen during the late afternoon hours on September 25.  
• Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the IDF attacked several military camps, including the Houthi General Staff camp in Sana’a. He further added that the airstrike killed many Houthi operatives and destroyed UAVs and weapons caches.  

Direct Houthi UAV impact in Eilat  

1. This marks the third time in September that a Houthi-launched UAV penetrated Israel’s defense system and caused damage in the Eilat area, as similarly recorded in the city on September 18 and at Ramon Airport on September 7. However, the latest attack is particularly notable given that at least 20 individuals were wounded, compared to the previous two attacks which resulted in very limited casualties, thus marking a relative escalation.  
2. The higher casualty toll may have been derived from the UAV’s impact in a central and touristic area of the city, adjacent to hotels and near a major commercial center, during the celebration of Jewish New Year (Rosh HaShanah) when an increased number of tourists are likely present in Eilat. In this context, the latest attack will also have a greater psychological impact on the Israeli populace.  
3. According to preliminary findings, the attack did not evidence the use of a newer, more sophisticated UAV that poses a greater strategic challenge for Israel’s aerial defense systems. It therefore reiterates the sustained difficulty these systems face in detecting and intercepting standard Houthi UAVs, which have resulted in five direct impacts on Israeli territory since December 2024, compared to just three direct ballistic missile impacts. This is due to UAVs’ low and slow flight path, as was assessed to be the case in the latest incident, resulting in delayed detection which can impede interception. In this context, Eilat is particularly vulnerable given its positioning adjacent to the Jordanian and Egyptian borders where aerial defense coverage is likely less robust.  
4. Combined, these two factors have resulted in Eilat’s emergence as a flashpoint for Houthi UAV attacks, which has likely been fueled by the Houthis’ success in directly striking this area three times in quick succession. However, more broadly, the advantages carried by UAVs have prompted a general increase in their employment by the Houthis in recent months. 14 UAV attacks have been recorded in September so far, compared to seven in August, and just three in July. This aims to act as a force multiplier to the Houthis’ ballistic missile launches, which have resulted in fewer direct impacts (albeit while inflicting far greater material damage given their significantly heavier payload), despite the introduction of cluster warheads in August.  

5. Additionally, as indicated by the failed missile launch shortly after the UAV attack on September 24, the Houthis may be facing greater operational challenges in deploying this modus operandi, potentially due to repeated Israeli targeted airstrikes on the group’s military infrastructure, including weapon storage facilities, and the sustained efforts by the Presidential Command Council (PCC)-led forces in Yemen to intercept weapons transfers from Iran.  
6. FORECAST: Collectively, these factors signal the likelihood of a sustained uptick in Houthi UAV attacks, aimed at exploiting the long-standing vulnerability of the Israeli defense systems. Eilat is expected to remain a flashpoint given its inherent vulnerabilities due to its geographical location and the success of the latest attacks. This is supported by Israel’s reported decision to deploy the Iron Beam laser defense system, which exhibited success in combating Hezbollah UAVs during hostilities in 2024, in anticipation of this threat in the coming weeks. While further direct impacts are plausible, Israel’s multi-layered aerial defense system will continue to intercept the majority of threats, as indicated by the overall interception rate of over 90 percent for all Houthi projectiles.  
7. FORECAST: In light of Israeli Defense Minister Katz’s statement and the repeated successful Houthi attacks in Eilat, particularly given the high numbers of casualties in the latest incident, retaliatory Israeli action against the Houthis is highly likely in the short term. Based on precedent, the IDF is likely to target Houthi strongholds and military infrastructure in Yemen, including in Sana’a, Hodeidah, and Sadaa. Nonetheless, this is unlikely to deter the Houthis, rendering the continuation of the tit-for-tat dynamic highly likely.   

Israeli strikes in Sana’a 

The Israeli strikes in the Houthis’ self-proclaimed capital are an expected development in light of Israeli Defense Minister Katz’s statement and precedent wherein direct Houthi impacts result in retaliatory Israeli strikes in Yemen. While the outcome of the strikes is unclear, their timing during a weekly speech by the Houthi leader aligns with an emerging trend recorded in recent weeks, which seeks to emphasize Israel’s message that repeated attacks on its territory will come at a cost. FORECAST: Nonetheless, this is unlikely to deter the Houthis, who are liable to conduct retaliatory attacks against Israel in the coming hours or days. Overall, this renders the continuation of the tit-for-tat dynamic highly likely.    

Israel: 

1. Travel to Israel may continue while adhering to all security precautions regarding armed conflict, militancy, and civil unrest.   
2. Continue monitoring regional developments and adhere to all Home Front Command (HFC) notifications promptly. Ensure that the HFC or other “Color Red” alert applications such as “Tzofar”, “Tzeva Adom”, or “Cumta-Red Alerts” are downloaded to receive timely alerts.   
3. Those operating or residing in Eilat are advised to remain extra vigilant due to the uptick in Houthi attacks targeting the city. Remain cognizant of the whereabouts of shelters/safe areas at all times, particularly given the relatively short, advanced warning period provided for aerial threats.  
4. Refresh and retain business contingency plans (BCPs) and security protocols, and ensure shelters’ preparedness for long durations to increase resilience for escalation scenarios.   
5. MAX Security has strong on-ground capabilities in Israel, including secure transportation, provision of safe havens, and contingency consultation and planning. Contact us at [email protected] or +44 20-3540-0434. 

During Color Red sirens:  

1. Prefer reaching a shelter if possible. In “Mamads” (residential secure spaces), ensure that the room’s steel door and outer steel window are both locked to maintain safety. 
2. Remain in the shelter following the sounding of Color Red sirens until a follow-up “all-clear” notification from the HFC due to the risk of falling shrapnel and fragments. 
3. Approach the safe area calmly and remain cognizant of the fact that many injuries occur when people are running to the shelter panicked.    
4. If such a designated Mamad does not exist: 
5. Go to a room with as few external walls, windows, and openings as possible, sit on the floor below the window line, and near an internal wall.  
6. In an open area, lay down on the ground and cover your head with your hands.   
7. When driving, safely pull over and check your surroundings before vacating your vehicle and following the above instructions. 

Yemen:  

Those operating or residing in Yemen over the coming hours and days are advised to avoid all travel to Houthi-held areas, including Sana’a and Hodeidah, due to the likelihood of Israeli airstrikes.