Houthi Missile Strikes Ben Gurion Airport, Prompting Injuries, Flight Cancellations, and Israeli Retaliation Plans
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – A ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck near Terminal 3 of Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday morning, marking a dramatic escalation in the regional conflict and prompting a wave of injuries, international flight cancellations, and a firm declaration from Israeli leaders: retaliation is imminent.
The missile impacted a grove of trees near the airport’s main access road, just hundreds of yards from the control tower. Though the blast caused no fatalities, Magen David Adom reported at least six injuries—ranging from light to moderate—among civilians caught in the blast or rushing to shelters. Two additional people were treated for anxiety.
Following the strike, Israel temporarily halted air traffic at Ben Gurion for about an hour. Sirens sounded across central Israel, including Jerusalem, the Dan region, and Judea and Samaria. Though the IDF attempted to intercept the projectile with its Arrow system and the U.S.-supplied THAAD system, the missile was not neutralized. The Israeli Air Force is now investigating the failure.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed the group used a hypersonic ballistic missile, adding that interception attempts had failed and warning international airlines against flying to Israel. “The Israeli airport is no longer safe for air travel,” he declared. Senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti echoed the threat: “There are no red lines in this confrontation with the Zionist entity, the United States and Britain.”
The missile strike sparked immediate international fallout. Around 20 foreign carriers—including Lufthansa, British Airways, Delta, and Wizz Air—suspended flights to and from Israel for at least 72 hours. Transportation Minister Miri Regev confirmed that the missile caused panic and injuries, and noted that aviation authorities are working “around the clock” to restore operations. About 30 carriers, she said, continue to operate.
The attack marks the first time a Houthi missile has directly impacted the airport grounds, and comes amid a broader campaign of Houthi aggression. Since March 18, the group has launched at least 27 ballistic missiles at Israel, along with drones—roughly half of which have been intercepted. The Houthis began targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping shortly after Hamas’ October 7 attack, operating under a slogan that includes “Death to America, Death to Israel.”
In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, “We’re operating against them in coordination with the United States… there will be severe blows.” At an emergency meeting with top security officials, the government agreed that “the time for restraint is over.” Netanyahu later posted a message in English: “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.”
Defense Minister Israel Katz reinforced the message: “Whoever harms us, we will strike them sevenfold.” Israeli Opposition leader Benny Gantz added, “This is not Yemen—it is Iran. Iran is the one firing ballistic missiles at the State of Israel, and it must be held accountable.”
Washington, meanwhile, signaled it will not oppose an Israeli military response. “The US military continues its operation against the Houthis… and we will continue to coordinate with the Israeli government,” National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt told The Jerusalem Post.
The US has conducted over 1,000 strikes against Houthi targets since late 2023, including a wave of attacks over the weekend in Saada and Al-Jawf that reportedly killed dozens of militants.
The Israeli Security Cabinet was scheduled to meet Sunday evening, with the Houthi threat and a potential Israeli strike in Yemen high on the agenda. While Israel had previously refrained from engaging the Houthis directly, that policy now appears to be changing.
As tension rises, officials stress that Israel’s military and security apparatuses are on high alert—not only against further Houthi attacks, but also amid ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, instability in Syria, and growing threats from Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The impact of Sunday’s missile is reverberating far beyond the airport’s perimeter—politically, economically, and strategically. With both Israel and the U.S. vowing continued military operations, the region may be entering a new and dangerous phase.
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