Jerusalem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Authorities reported that a missile fired from Yemen hit close to Israel’s primary international airport on Sunday, causing a temporary suspension of air traffic and igniting threats of retaliation.
The Israeli ambulance service reported no serious injuries. A man and woman with minor injuries were transported to the hospital, while two individuals were treated on-site for panic-related effects.
How did Israel respond to the missile strike?
A missile launched at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport was claimed by Yemen’s Houthis, according to Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesperson, who made the announcement in a televised statement.
Saree reiterated a caution to airlines that the Israeli airport is now “no longer safe for air travel.” The Israeli military stated that “several attempts were made to intercept” the missile before impact.
Yair Hezroni, the chief of the police’s central district, stated at the scene in a video shared by the force that “you can see the area just behind us: a crater was formed here, several dozen meters (yards) wide and several dozen meters deep.”
The police footage depicted officers at the perimeter of a crater in an orchard, with the airport’s control tower visible in the background. Israel’s airport authority announced that “departures and arrivals have resumed” at Ben Gurion shortly after they were temporarily halted because of missile fire. The aviation authority confirmed in a statement that the airport “is open and operational.”
Defence Minister Israel Katz warned of a powerful retaliation, stating:
“Anyone who hits us, we will hit them seven times stronger.”
Why are Houthis targeting Israel during the Gaza war?
The Houthi rebels, who hold significant territory in Yemen, have initiated missile and drone strikes against Israel and Red Sea shipping during the Gaza war, declaring their actions as supportive of the Palestinians. On Saturday, the Houthis announced a third missile strike on Israel within two days. Most of the missiles launched by the Houthis since the beginning of the Gaza war in 2023 have been intercepted by Israeli air defense systems.
During a recent two-month ceasefire in the Gaza war, the Yemeni rebels halted their attacks. However, in March, they warned of resuming strikes against international shipping due to Israel’s blockade of aid to the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, in recent weeks, the US military has conducted much more extensive strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, targeting the group whose assaults on Red Sea shipping have greatly impacted global trade.
