Israel’s military confirmed on Tuesday that it intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, reportedly aimed at Ben Gurion International Airport, the country’s main air hub. This is even as areas around the airport appear to have taken a devastating hit, causing flights to be halted for about 30 minutes.
The Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for the launch. Their spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said in a video statement that the group had fired a ‘Palestine 2’ hypersonic ballistic missile in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
“A missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted by the Israeli air force,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) posted on X.
This marks another escalation in regional hostilities since the October 7, 2023 outbreak of war in Gaza. The Houthis have launched several drone and missile attacks on Israeli targets, most of which have been intercepted, prompting retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Houthi-held areas in Yemen.
The rebels have also targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming links to Israel, triggering US-led airstrikes in response.
The incident underscores the widening regional impact of the Israel-Gaza conflict and the growing security risks to international air and maritime travel.
