A missile fired from Yemen landed near the main terminal of Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday morning, injuring at least six people and prompting a temporary halt to air travel, Israeli authorities confirmed.
The blast occurred just outside the airport, located on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, causing a plume of black smoke to rise near the runway. Unverified videos shared online appeared to show drivers pulling over and taking cover as the projectile struck.
According to Israeli media, four people were wounded directly by the blast, while two others were injured as they rushed to reach a shelter. Emergency services were deployed to the site, and images circulating in local media showed a deep crater left by the impact.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz responded defiantly to the attack, stating, “Anyone who hits us, we will hit them seven times stronger.”
The Houthi rebel group in Yemen claimed responsibility for the missile strike. Speaking on television, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared, “The Israeli airport is no longer safe for air travel.”
Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international gateway, briefly suspended operations in the aftermath of the strike but has since reopened. Sirens sounded across multiple regions in Israel as the missile approached, though the Israeli Air Force is investigating why the missile was not intercepted by the country’s usually robust defence systems.
The Houthis, a militant group backed by Iran, have routinely targeted Israel with missile attacks in solidarity with Hamas in Gaza. However, it is rare for their projectiles to reach Israeli territory, particularly near high-security zones like Ben Gurion Airport.
The strike marks an escalation in the group’s campaign, which has also included attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea—operations that have triggered retaliatory airstrikes by the United States, with support from the United Kingdom.
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