U.S. State Department: U.S. Consulate in Tel Aviv Was Not Damaged in Houthi Attack

In response to the deadly drone attack by Iran-backed Houthis on Tel Aviv, the U.S. State Department announced that no damage was inflicted on the U.S. consulate and all its staff are safe. The U.S. diplomatic apparatus added: "We are in close contact with Israeli officials to thoroughly investigate the source of the explosion and its intended target." Meanwhile, Jack Lew, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, expressed shock at the brazen drone attack by the Houthis in a post on social media. He extended condolences to the family of the Israeli citizen killed in the attack and confirmed that all staff at the U.S. consulate in Tel Aviv are unharmed. Following the deadly drone strike by Iran-supported Houthis on Tel Aviv, Yoav Galant, Israel's Defense Minister, stated that revenge would be taken against those seeking to harm Israel. Galant, after meeting with senior military officials including Herzi Halevi, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, said that the Israeli army is immediately strengthening all of the country’s defense systems and will retaliate against anyone attempting to harm Israel or carry out terrorist operations against it. In this context, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, convened a meeting on Friday to assess the security situation. As of the time of this report, details of any decisions made during this meeting have not been released. However, Israeli officials told the publication "Ynet" that "the Houthi attack using an Iranian drone will be responded to." According to them, the option of a direct Israeli attack on Yemen "is on the table." These officials believe that the target of the Houthi drone attack was the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army, announced that as a result of the suicide drone attack early Friday morning in Tel Aviv, one Israeli civilian was killed and eight others were injured. Israeli security forces are investigating the suicide drone used by the Houthis in the deadly attack on Tel Aviv. According to assessments by the Israeli army, the suicide drone used by the Houthis in the deadly attack early Friday morning on Tel Aviv is of the "Samad-3" type, manufactured by the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has been modified for greater range and fired from Yemen. The Israeli army spokesperson reminded that the Iranian government provides financial and military support to its proxy groups across the region, including Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Images from the scene show broken glass scattered on the city sidewalks, with people gathering near the damaged buildings from the explosion. The scene has been cordoned off by police tape. Israeli security forces are near the site hit by the Houthi suicide drone in Tel Aviv. Following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of over 250 others, including children, women, and the elderly, Israel launched an offensive against Gaza aimed at destroying this Islamist group supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran and freeing the abducted hostages. The Iranian government, which announced its comprehensive support for Hamas's terrorist attack from the outset, has initiated attacks on Israel and U.S. positions in the region through its proxy groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Yemeni Houthis. In recent months, the Houthis have carried out numerous drone and missile attacks against commercial vessels in the region, and in response, the U.S. and its allies have formed an international coalition to target the positions of this Iran-backed group with devastating attacks.