A spokesperson for the Houthi armed forces announced on social media that the Iran-aligned group had “targeted ‘Tel Aviv’ in occupied Palestine.” The group claimed to have used a new type of drone “capable of bypassing interceptor systems and being undetectable by radars.”

The Israeli military has launched an investigation into the explosion, which occurred in the early hours of Friday morning. Military officials are examining why the country’s air defense systems failed to intercept the “aerial target.” A military official stated during a briefing, “We’re talking about a large UAV [Unmanned Aerial Vehicle] that can fly large distances. We’re not ruling out any possibilities right now.”

Following the attack, Israel’s air force has increased patrols to bolster the protection of the country’s skies. Israeli police reported finding the body of a man in an apartment close to the explosion site, with investigations into the circumstances ongoing. Footage from the scene showed broken glass littering the pavements and crowds of onlookers near a building marked by the blast. The area has been sealed off by police tape.

The attack has prompted criticism of the Israeli government’s handling of security. Opposition politician Yair Lapid described the incident as “further proof that this government does not know and cannot provide security to the citizens of Israel.” He criticized the government's lack of effective policies and plans, stating, “Those who lose deterrence in the north and south also lose it in the heart of Tel Aviv. There are no policies, no plans, all public relations and discussions about themselves. They [the government] have to go.”

The Houthis have a history of launching drones and missiles toward Israel and Israeli-linked shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, particularly in support of Palestinians amid ongoing conflicts in Gaza. Until this latest attack, all previous attempts by the Houthis to hit Israel had been intercepted by Israeli defenses or by Western allies stationed in the region.