Houthis Target Ben Gurion Airport with Ballistic Missiles
The Israeli military confirmed that one missile, launched from Yemen, was intercepted. No casualties or damage were immediately reported.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Sunday claimed responsibility for launching two ballistic missiles at Israel’s main international airport, according to a statement reported by AFP.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree announced that the Iran-backed group targeted Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, pledging continued strikes until Israel lifts its blockade on the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military confirmed that one missile, launched from Yemen, was intercepted. No casualties or damage were immediately reported.
The Houthis have repeatedly launched drones and missiles in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel’s military campaign against Hamas armed militants has entered its 19th month.
On May 6, Israeli airstrikes severely damaged Sanaa International Airport, destroying the terminal, creating craters on the runway, and damaging six aircraft, including three belonging to national carrier Yemenia. Despite the damage, flights resumed at the airport on May 17, with a Yemenia flight from Amman, Jordan, arriving with 136 passengers.
Earlier this month, the United States and the Houthis reached a ceasefire agreement, brokered by Oman, under which the Houthis agreed to halt attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. However, the Houthis emphasized that this ceasefire does not apply to Israel. Mohammed Abdulsalam, the group's chief negotiator, stated that the agreement "does not include Israel in any way, shape or form."
