A missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi militants landed near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday, causing a plume of smoke to rise into the sky and triggering panic among passengers in the terminal.
The Houthis, who have aligned themselves with Iran, claimed responsibility for the attack, which they said was in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliation, stating, “We attacked in the past, we will attack in the future,” in a video released by his office.
The missile struck a road near a Terminal 3 parking lot, creating a large crater. Israeli police commander Yair Hetzroni confirmed that while the strike caused panic, no significant damage occurred. A few passengers were injured and taken to the hospital with mild to moderate injuries.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the missile was launched from Yemen at approximately 9:18 a.m. (0618 GMT). Despite several attempts to intercept the missile, it hit the area near the airport. The IDF is continuing its investigation into the attack.
In response to the strike, several airlines, including Lufthansa, Delta, ITA Airways, and Air France, canceled flights to Tel Aviv. Although the airport resumed normal operations, access routes were temporarily blocked.
This attack comes amid Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, with Houthi missile strikes increasing since March, coinciding with rising tensions in the region. U.S. strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen have intensified in an effort to curb their missile capabilities.
