Israel Intercepts Missile Fired from Yemen
In an official statement, the Israeli army announced the interception of the missile, which triggered air raid sirens in several areas across the country.
By Ahora Qadi
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Israeli military on Friday confirmed the interception of a missile launched from Yemen, as tensions continue to simmer across the Middle East following months of cross-border hostilities.
In an official statement, the Israeli army announced the interception of the missile, which triggered air raid sirens in several areas across the country. The projectile, fired from Yemen, marks yet another escalation in the ongoing shadow war between Israel and Iran-backed regional militias.
Shortly after the launch, incoming flight traffic to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport was briefly disrupted. A flight arriving from Larnaca, Cyprus, was delayed as precautionary measures were enacted. A spokesperson for the airport later confirmed that operations had returned to normal.
Houthi Attacks Continue
Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced on Friday that they carried out a "precision strike" on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport using a ballistic missile.
Military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that the attack was part of their "air blockade" on Israel until its aggression in Gaza ends. He also claimed the group targeted a "vital Israeli site" in Jaffa with a drone.
The Houthis renewed their warning to airlines to halt flights to Israel, saying their ban on air traffic to "occupied Palestine" remains in effect until the war on Gaza stops.
Renewed Threats from Yemen's Houthis
Since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, Yemen’s Houthi movement — aligned with Iran — has launched dozens of missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory and vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis have claimed their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
A rare incident occurred last Sunday when a missile fired by the Houthis landed near Ben Gurion Airport, injuring six civilians and temporarily grounding air traffic. Several international airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv following the strike.
In response, the Israeli Air Force launched retaliatory airstrikes this week targeting Sana’a International Airport in Yemen, which the military claimed to have “completely destroyed,” along with three power stations in the war-ravaged country.
Israel Blames Iran for Proxy Escalation
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and his cabinet colleague Israel Katz have directly accused Iran of orchestrating the Houthi attacks. In a statement Thursday, Katz warned Tehran that “the era of proxy warfare is over,” adding that Israel “will do to Iran what it did to Hamas in Gaza.”
These remarks came as Washington, via Omani mediation, brokered a ceasefire agreement with the Houthis earlier this week to halt weeks of tit-for-tat airstrikes in response to Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
A Wider Conflict Looms
Friday’s missile launch — despite the truce with the U.S. — underscores the fragility of regional security as Iran-backed groups continue to engage Israel from multiple fronts. While Israeli authorities managed to intercept the latest threat without casualties, the risk of escalation remains acute, particularly amid warnings from Tel Aviv that it may directly retaliate against Iranian targets if attacks persist.
The incident adds to a growing list of regional flashpoints with the potential to ignite broader conflict, as the battle lines extend far beyond Gaza into the strategic corridors of the Red Sea and the Arabian Peninsula.
