- Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a hypersonic missile at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, injuring eight, causing major flight disruptions, and leaving a massive crater near Terminal 3.
- Israel vowed unrestrained retaliation, with Defense Minister Israel Katz warning, "Whoever harms us will be harmed sevenfold," signaling imminent military action.
- Despite advanced missile defenses, the Houthi strike succeeded, forcing airlines like Lufthansa and Delta to cancel flights and prompting Houthi threats of further air blockades.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu blamed Iran for backing the attack, raising fears of a wider regional conflict as Israel prepares an aggressive response.
- The strike escalates tensions amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, with over 52,000 Palestinian deaths, and risks further destabilizing the Middle East.
A ballistic missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport has escalated tensions in the region, prompting Israel to declare it will retaliate "without restrictions." The strike, which injured eight people and forced flight cancellations, marks a dangerous turning point in the conflict, raising fears of a wider regional war.
On May 4, Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a hypersonic missile at Israel’s busiest airport, Ben Gurion, causing panic, halting flights, and leaving a massive crater near Terminal 3.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed, "Whoever harms us will be harmed sevenfold," signaling an imminent military response. The attack came just hours before Israeli officials were set to vote on expanding military operations in Gaza.
A failed defense and global flight disruptions
Despite Israel’s advanced missile defense systems, including the U.S.-made THAAD and the Arrow system, the Houthi missile struck its target. Israeli police commander Yair Hetzroni 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."
The attack forced major airlines, including Lufthansa, Air France, Delta, and Wizz Air, to cancel flights, stranding passengers and disrupting travel.
The Houthis, who have been targeting Israel since November 2023 in protest of the Gaza war, warned airlines that Ben Gurion was no longer safe and that they would “impose a comprehensive air blockade on [Israel] by repeatedly targeting… Ben-Gurion Airport". The strike underscores the Houthis’ growing reach, despite near-daily U.S. airstrikes on Yemen under Operation Rough Rider, which has hit over 1,000 targets since March.
Israel’s vow to escalate and the risk of wider war
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu framed the attack as Iranian-backed aggression, writing, "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." His government has long sought to link the Houthis to Tehran, despite Iran’s insistence that the rebels act independently.
The White House had previously restrained Israel from striking Yemen directly, opting instead to lead the bombing campaign itself. But with Netanyahu now promising unrestrained retaliation, the risk of a broader conflict looms. Far-right Israeli officials, like National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, are pushing for even harsher measures, demanding a "powerful" expansion of the war.
Gaza’s devastation and global complicity
The Houthi attack comes amid Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza, where over 52,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. Israel’s promise of a fierce response to Yemen risks further destabilizing the region. With Gaza already in ruins and civilian casualties mounting, the cycle of retaliation shows no sign of ending.
The strike on Ben Gurion Airport has shattered any remaining illusions of containment. Israel’s vow to hit Yemen "without restrictions" could ignite a wider war, drawing in Iran and further entrenching global divisions. For now, the skies over Tel Aviv remain tense, and the path to de-escalation seems further away than ever.
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