A huge explosion rocks Tel Aviv amid reports of a drone attack

Israeli media reported at dawn today, Friday, that a powerful explosion occurred on Ben Yehuda Street in Tel Aviv, near the US Embassy, confirming that the echoes of the explosion were heard in many areas in the center of the country. The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper site on Telegram published video clips showing the first moments of the explosion. Hebrew media indicated that there are possibilities that the explosion was the result of a drone attack, but the authorities did not confirm this. The police spokesman said: "A short while ago, a report was received at the police headquarters about hearing the sound of an explosion in one of the buildings in the city of Tel Aviv. Large forces from the Tel Aviv District Police arrived at the scene of the incident and are dealing with the incident." A new video shows a drone targeting a building in Tel Aviv, while the Israeli police announced a powerful explosion of unknown origin at 04:00 AM today. The Israeli police added in its statement: "A large number of pol ice officers and explosives experts arrived at the scene and are dealing with the situation." The police reported that initial investigations indicate that the explosion "was caused by the fall of an aerial target, without any prior warning. The matter is under comprehensive investigation." For its part, the emergency services said that a man died after being injured by shrapnel from the explosion, noting that 8 others were transferred to hospitals, and that the man's body was found in a building near the explosion site. The police announced the closure of the explosion area, and confirmed that its forces are searching for the remains of the shrapnel to determine the cause of the explosion, before the Israeli army announced that the incident was caused by a drone explosion. The army's announcement came after the Israeli Home Front confirmed earlier that no air intrusion into the area was detected, and therefore the sirens were not sounded. For his part, the military spokesman for the Ansar Allah group (H outhis), Yahya Saree, said via its account on the 'X' platform that the group will later reveal the details of the 'qualitative operation' that targeted Tel Aviv. Source: National Iraqi News Agency