ALBAWABA- A Yemeni-launched drone struck near a hotel in the southern Israeli city of Eilat on Thursday, while separate clashes in Gaza left four Israeli officers dead, underscoring the widening fronts of Israel’s ongoing war.
Israeli media broadcast footage of the drone exploding at the entrance of a hotel in Eilat after Israeli air defenses failed to intercept it. Rescue teams rushed to the scene, though no immediate casualties were reported.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority confirmed the drone was launched from Yemen, marking a rare strike deep inside Israeli territory.
Meanwhile in Gaza, the Israeli army announced the deaths of four officers, a major and three lieutenants, in fierce battles in the al-Jneineh neighborhood east of Rafah.
Three other soldiers were injured in the clashes, which highlighted the heavy toll of ongoing ground operations.
The fighting in Gaza continues to exact a devastating human cost. At least 48 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes across the enclave since dawn Thursday, according to local health officials.
In a statement, Hamas’ military wing warned it would not seek to safeguard the lives of Israeli captives in Gaza City, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of endangering them with his latest military escalation.
