Tel Aviv, Israel| A ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck near Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday, in a bold and unprecedented escalation of the group’s military campaign against Israel.
The strike has heightened tensions across the Middle East, prompted flight suspensions by major international airlines, and triggered warnings of retaliatory action from Israel.
The missile, believed to have been launched from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, traveled over 2,100 kilometers before hitting a grove inside the airport perimeter, roughly 350 meters from the main passenger terminal.
Israeli media reported that at least six people were injured, including a man with limb trauma and several others affected by shockwaves and debris.
Despite having one of the most advanced air defense systems in the world, including the U.S.-supplied THAAD and Israel’s own Arrow system, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted it failed to intercept the missile.
The incident marks a rare breach of Israeli airspace by a long-range projectile from Yemen and raises serious questions about the efficacy of current defense protocols.
“The impact was identified near Ben Gurion Airport,” the IDF said in a brief statement posted on Telegram. “An investigation is underway into the interception failure.”
Houthi Forces Claim Responsibility, Signal Further Escalation
The Houthi movement, which controls much of western Yemen including the capital Sana’a and key ports like Hodeidah, quickly claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a statement, military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had fired a “hypersonic ballistic missile” at the airport, boasting that both Israeli and American defense systems had failed to intercept it.
Saree warned international airlines that “Ben Gurion Airport is unsafe,” suggesting further attacks could follow.
Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior Houthi official, reinforced the group’s hardline stance in an interview with Qatari-based Al-Araby TV, declaring that the group has “no red lines” in its campaign against Israel.
The Houthis have previously targeted Israel and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, framing their operations as solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. They have stated that their attacks would cease only if Israel halts its military operations in the besieged territory.
Israel Points Finger at Iran, Vows Response
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran for orchestrating the attack, echoing U.S. allegations that Tehran is supplying arms and support to the Houthis.
“Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran,” Netanyahu wrote on social media platform X, while sharing a March post by U.S. President Donald Trump accusing Iran of fueling Middle East instability. “Israel will respond… to their Iranian terror masters.”
Netanyahu also hinted at forthcoming military action. “We operated against them in the past and we will operate in the future. It’s not ‘bang – that’s it,’ but there will be bangs,” he said in a video address.
Defense Minister Israel Katz was more direct: “Whoever harms us, we will strike them sevenfold.”
Opposition leader Benny Gantz echoed the prime minister’s sentiments, calling it “not Yemen – this is Iran,” and demanded Tehran be held accountable.
Flight Suspensions and Market Impact
The missile strike led to widespread disruptions in air travel. Major international carriers including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Air France, and Wizz Air suspended flights to Israel through at least Tuesday.
An Indian Airlines flight was forced to return to India mid-air, while Spanish carrier Air Europa canceled a scheduled flight from Madrid.
In response, Israel’s national airline El Al launched special rescue fares—$99 from Larnaca and $149 from Athens—to bring back stranded Israeli citizens.
Despite the attack, El Al’s stock surged by nearly 7%, while Israir also saw a 3.8% rise, driven by investor expectations of increased domestic demand as foreign airlines reduce service.
Regional Reactions and Global Stakes
The missile strike triggered a cascade of reactions across the region. Lebanese militant group Hezbollah praised the attack as “heroic,” calling it a blow to U.S. and British efforts to weaken Yemen.
A spokesman for the group urged Arab and Islamic nations to mobilize resources in defense of Gaza.
Meanwhile, the U.S. continued to pressure Iran economically. Just days before the missile strike, the Trump administration imposed new sanctions on countries purchasing Iranian oil and petrochemicals, citing Tehran’s alleged role in fueling regional conflicts.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused Iran of arming the Houthis and warned of further consequences.
Russia has urged de-escalation. In a March phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov demanded a halt to American strikes on Yemen and called for political dialogue.
Despite repeated U.S. and UK-led air and naval strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen since March, the rebels have remained defiant.
Independent Yemeni journalist Hussein al-Bukhaiti told RT that American air raids had already devastated much of the country, leaving little else for Israel to target.
He speculated the missile used may have been a new hypersonic variant and suggested the near-miss at the airport terminal was a calculated warning.
Security Council and Future Risks
The Israeli government convened a high-level security consultation Sunday afternoon to discuss military options, including a possible direct strike on Yemen.
Some Israeli analysts, including journalist Amir Oren, have suggested that if the attacks persist, Israel may consider targeting Iran directly—an escalation with potentially explosive regional implications.
With Ben Gurion Airport back to full operation and tensions at a boiling point, the situation remains volatile.
The Houthi strike has not only demonstrated the reach and resilience of the Yemeni rebel group but also exposed new vulnerabilities in Israel’s defense architecture and the fragile balance of Middle Eastern geopolitics.
As both sides dig in and regional powers take sides, Sunday’s strike could mark a turning point in an already explosive conflict.
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