A ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck near Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday morning, causing major disruption and injuring eight people. The missile, which landed within the airport’s perimeter, damaged a road and a vehicle, and led to the temporary suspension of air traffic.
Israel’s air defence system was unable to intercept the missile despite multiple attempts, triggering air raid sirens across central Israel and sending residents scrambling for shelter. The strike prompted several flight cancellations, rerouted planes, and a temporary suspension of train services to the airport.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on Sana’a airport earlier in the week. In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree warned that Ben Gurion Airport was “no longer safe for air travel.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz condemned the strike and promised a forceful response. “Whoever harms us, we will strike them sevenfold,” he said. The Israeli government held an emergency session to consider retaliatory measures, including potential military operations against Houthi positions in Yemen.
The missile strike came just hours before the Israeli Cabinet was scheduled to vote on expanding military operations in the Gaza Strip. Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza has led to widespread destruction, with more than 52,000 Palestinians reported killed so far.
Meanwhile, the United States has conducted airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in an attempt to weaken the group’s military capabilities. Despite this, the Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
