Israeli media reported a loud explosion on Ben Yehuda Street on the corner of Shalom Aleichem near the US Consulate in Tel Aviv early Friday morning.
During searches by emergency services, the body of a lifeless man was found in an apartment near the location of the explosion. Seven people were taken to hospital with minor wounds, according to Israeli media.
Police, fire, and rescue services were deployed to the area and told Israeli media that there was no fire. The source of the explosion is not yet known.
An IDF spokesperson announced that a preliminary investigation shows that the explosion in Tel Aviv “was caused by the fall of an aerial target, which did not trigger a warning.”
The IDF is continuing to investigate the explosion.
מבדיקה ראשונית עולה כי הפיצוץ בתל אביב נגרם כתוצאה מנפילה של מטרה אווירית, שלא הפעילה התרעה. הנושא נמצא בתחקור מעמיק. כוחות רבים פועלים כעת במקום.חיל האוויר תגבר את פטרולי המטוסים הפועלים להגנת שמי המדינה.אין שינוי בהנחיות פיקוד העורף
— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) July 19, 2024
Residents who live near the place of the explosion say that objects were shattered in their houses as a result of the blast.
The spokesman of Yemen’s Houthis said on X, that the group will reveal details about a military operation that targeted Tel Aviv.
Several wounded
Magen David Adom reported that a 37-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were slightly injured, and they are fully conscious and were taken to the Ichilov Hospital with shrapnel injuries to their limbs and shoulder. In addition, four were being treated for shock at the scene.
בשעה 03:12 התקבל דיווח במוקד 101 של מד”א במרחב דן, על חפץ שהתפוצץ ברח’ שלום עליכם פינת בן יהודה בתל אביב. חובשים ופראמדיקים של מד”א מעניקים טיפול רפואי ומפנים לבי”ח איכילוב, גבר כבן 37 וצעירה כבת 25 במצב קל, בהכרה מלאה עם פציעות מרסיסים בגפיים ובכתף. בנוסף מטופלים 4 נפגעי חרדה.
— מגן דוד אדום (@mda_israel) July 19, 2024
The Home Front Command stated: “No aerial intrusion into the country’s central area was detected, and therefore no alarm was triggered – the incident is under investigation.”
The police said: “A short time ago, a report was received at the police headquarters about hearing an explosion in a building in Tel Aviv. Large forces of the Tel Aviv District Police and police engineers arrived at the scene.”
This is a developing story.