Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a missile attack near Israel's Ben Gurion International Airport on May 4, 2025, causing a temporary halt to air traffic and prompting air raid sirens [16]. The Israeli military confirmed that its defense system failed to intercept the missile, which landed within the airport's perimeter [16].
The attack caused damage to a road and a vehicle, with eight people reported injured [16]. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree warned airlines that Ben Gurion Airport was "no longer safe for air travel" [16].
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened a "sevenfold retaliation" [16]. This attack is part of a series of Houthi attacks against Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza [3, 4]. The Houthis have also disrupted shipping in the Red Sea, impacting global trade [3, 4, 12].
The US has been conducting airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen [3, 19]. The EU has also launched Operation Aspides to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea [13].
The Israeli Air Force is investigating the failed interception [20]. Hamas praised the Houthi attack [20].
The attack highlights the ongoing tensions in the region and the increasing threat to international shipping [3, 4].
This article is based on our author's analysis of materials taken from the following resources: Al Jazeera, Arab News, and Reuters.