Iron Dome fails to intercept Houthi drone in Eilat: 'Israel' identifies cause

The 'Israeli' military announced on Thursday that it had identified the reason why the Iron Dome defense system failed to intercept a Houthi-launched drone that struck the southern city of Eilat on Wednesday, injuring more than 20 people, according to "the Times of Israel".

An initial inquiry conducted by the 'Israeli' Air Force found that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was detected relatively late. However, the Home Front Command activated early warning sirens to alert civilians in accordance with established protocols, the military said.

Interception attempts using the Iron Dome system were unsuccessful. The military confirmed that the cause of the failure has been identified and corrective measures have been implemented to prevent a recurrence.

Air Force Commander Major General Tomer Bar has issued instructions to take additional steps to strengthen the readiness, detection, and interception capabilities of the system in the Eilat region. 

The Israeli army also stated that it plans to carry out further military operations against the Houthis in the near future, following airstrikes conducted Thursday in Sanaa.