The Israeli military announced the successful interception of a missile launched from Yemen on Monday, a claim made by the Houthi rebels who stated that the attack was aimed at Israel’s primary airport, Ben Gurion International Airport. Following the activation of air raid sirens across various regions in Israel, the military confirmed that the missile was intercepted, with residents reporting loud explosions over Jerusalem.
The Houthi movement, whose military operations have increasingly involved missile and drone strikes against Israel since the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023, has taken responsibility for this latest attack. In a video statement, the group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, declared the operation a demonstration of their “missile force” targeting the airport.
This incident marks a continuation of hostilities that resumed after a two-month ceasefire in Gaza ended in March, which had curtailed Houthi attacks. Since the resurgence of Israeli military operations in Gaza, the Houthis have ramped up their assault with missiles and drones, asserting their solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
While most of their launched projectiles have been successfully intercepted, the militants did manage to strike near Ben Gurion airport in early May, marking a significant escalation in their operations. In response to these ongoing threats, Israel has conducted multiple strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, targeting key infrastructure such as ports and the airport in the capital city, Sanaa, to deter further attacks.
