Blasts in Egypt near Israeli border as Gaza war rages on

The Israeli military blamed two explosions in Egypt, resulted in injuries, on an “aerial threat” from the Red Sea, a possible reference to the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, but some details are unclear.

Egypt was hit with two blasts early Friday, one of which occurred near the Israeli border, demonstrating the risk of spillover from the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

A drone fell in Taba and hit an ambulance facility, leaving six people wounded. Taba is located on the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea, just south of the town of Eilat in southern Israel. Later on, a projectile fell near an electric power plant in Nuweiba, located about 73 kilometers (45 miles) south of Taba, Egypt’s state-owned news outlet Al-Ahram reported.

Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Avichay Adraee Raif said the IDF detected an “aerial threat” in the Red Sea region. Adraee said the IDF considers the injuries in Egypt to be the result of this threat and that the matter is under investigation, according to a post on X.

There were no claims of responsibility and Egyptian officials said they are gathering information, according to Reuters.

On Wednesday, Hamas fired rockets at Eilat, in what appeared to be the group’s longest-range attack since the war began on Oct. 7.

Why it matters: The incident demonstrates the complexity facing Egypt with the war on its border. The IDF’s mention of an “aerial threat” could refer to the Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen, known for their use of drones, according to Reuters.

Last week, the US military shot down drones fired by the Houthis that the Pentagon said were potentially targeting Israel. The group’s leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi previously threatened that the group could join Hamas in the Gaza war.

Egypt has a peace deal with Israel, but the Egyptian population is widely hostile to the country. There have been massive protests in Egypt since the war began, and two Israeli tourists were shot dead earlier this month after the fighting broke out.

Egypt is concerned with spillover from the war, including a possible influx of Palestinians from Gaza. Earlier this month, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Gazans must “remain on their land.”

As a result, Egypt has treaded carefully so far with regard to the war, calling for a cease-fire and seeking to de-escalate the situation. The country hosted the Cairo Peace Summit last week with regional leaders, but the event ended without any major agreements.