Houthi missile hits near major Israeli airport

Tel Aviv

A ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen struck near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday, forcing a temporary halt in flights at the country’s busiest airport. Despite interception efforts by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the missile hit a grove near an airport access road, narrowly missing terminal infrastructure.

The Israel Airport Authority later reopened the airspace after suspending flight operations. The IDF confirmed the missile impact and said several attempts to intercept it had failed. The Israeli Air Force is now investigating why their aerial defence systems could not stop the missile.

Authorities are also examining how a missile reached such a sensitive area without being blocked. Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s emergency service, said eight people were injured. A man in his 50s suffered moderate trauma, while others, including two women affected by shockwaves and two more injured while seeking shelter, were taken to hospitals.

Following the strike, Defence Minister Israel Katz warned of strong retaliation, declaring, “Whoever harms us, we will strike them sevenfold.” Despite past Houthi attacks, Israel has not yet responded militarily to Yemen, as the U.S. leads a broader campaign against the Iran-backed rebels.

Senior Houthi officials celebrated the missile strike, claiming it showed their long-range abilities. They also warned airlines not to fly to or from Israel, saying such flights were no longer safe. This incident marks a serious breach of Israeli airspace and raises fears of further regional escalation.