Houthi Missile Hits Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, Prompting Escalation Threats from Netanyahu

A ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck the grounds of Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday, injuring at least eight people and temporarily suspending all flight operations. The incident, confirmed by multiple agencies, marks a significant escalation in regional hostilities linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

According to AFP and Reuters, the Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, with Houthi military spokesperson Yehya Saree stating the group had “successfully hit its target.” Saree added that the strike was part of their continued support for Palestinians, promising to carry out more attacks “whatever the consequences” until the Gaza conflict ends.

Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency services confirmed to the media that eight people were injured in the blast, which occurred near a road by Terminal 3’s parking lot. Reuters quoted senior Israeli police commander Yair Hetzroni at the scene, who described the damage: “You can see the scene right behind us here, a hole that opened up with a diameter of tens of meters and also tens of meters deep.” He noted that there was no significant structural damage.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed in a statement that air raid warning systems had been activated in several regions and that “several interception attempts were made against a missile launched from Yemen.” The IDF also said the incident was under investigation.

Flight operations at Ben Gurion were briefly halted following the strike. German airline Lufthansa announced it was suspending all flights to Tel Aviv until May 6, citing safety concerns.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly blamed Iran, stating on his official X (formerly Twitter) account: “Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport and, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also vowed a strong response. As quoted by AFP, he said: “Whoever harms us, we will harm them sevenfold.”

According to dpa and AP, Netanyahu has reportedly convened a meeting of Israel’s security cabinet to discuss a potential expansion of military operations in Gaza. Local media reports indicate that call-up orders have already been issued for tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.

The Houthis have launched multiple missile and drone attacks on Israel since the October 2023 Hamas-led attack that killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and saw more than 250 taken hostage. In response, Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza has killed over 52,500 Palestinians, including many women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

As the war grinds on, this strike on Israel’s primary airport highlights the growing risk of a broader regional war involving multiple state and non-state actors.