The Israeli military announced that it successfully intercepted a missile fired from Yemen on Sunday, amidst escalating tensions in the region. The missile launch was claimed by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who reported that they targeted Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s primary international gateway located near Tel Aviv.
In a statement, the Israeli military confirmed the interception and noted that air raid sirens were activated in various parts of the country in response to the threat. The Houthi rebels claimed they launched two ballistic missiles at the airport, illustrating an ongoing pattern of missile and drone attacks directed at Israel since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza earlier this month. This surge in hostilities was triggered by an attack on Israel by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group allied with the Houthis.
Earlier this month, one of the Houthi missiles hit near Ben Gurion Airport, causing damage close to the main terminal and injuring several individuals, marking a significant breach of Israel’s air defense systems. Following this incident, Israel conducted air strikes targeting Houthi-controlled ports along the Red Sea, including Hodeida and Salif, in retaliation for consecutive missile attacks. The Israeli government issued warnings of further strikes aimed at the Houthi leadership if missile activities persisted.
In the wake of the latest attacks, Yahya Saree, a spokesman for the Houthi military, declared the group would continue its operations against Israel until the ongoing blockade on Gaza is lifted. The Houthis, holding significant territory within Yemen, have maintained a campaign of targeting shipping routes in the Red Sea during the ongoing conflict, framing their actions as solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
These developments have raised concerns not only for regional security but also for international maritime operations, prompting retaliatory measures from the United States, which recently imposed a ceasefire with the Houthis that notably excluded any agreement regarding Israel. The ongoing conflict and missile exchanges signal a troubling escalation in interconnected regional tensions, with potential implications for various stakeholders in the Middle East.
