Houthi Rebels Declare Attack on Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel
Firing at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport Lands Near Terminal 3
The Houthi rebels, originating from Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, launched an attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, as stated by a spokesperson for the group, Yahya Saree, speaking to Al Jazeera. According to the attacker, the operation aimed at the airport situated in the occupied Jaffa region (Tel Aviv area).
"We've struck Ben Gurion Airport in enemy territory," Yahya Saree declared. "We urge international airlines to abstain from flying to Ben Gurion Airport as it's dangerous," he added.
A political bureau member of Ansar Allah, Mohammed al-Bahiti, expressed support for the escalation and warned that "attacks in Gaza will persist as long as Israel continues its offensives." Al-Bahiti emphasized that the Houthi attack on Ben Gurion Airport demonstrates their ability to strike fortified targets within Israel. Furthermore, he clarified that the group has "zero boundaries" in its faceoffs with the US, UK, and Israel.
On earlier occasions, RBC Group reported that a ballistic missile landed near Ben Gurion Airport, according to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). IDF reports claimed multiple interception attempts; the missile debris landed proximate to Terminal 3, as confirmed by Ynet. The Times of Israel indicated that six people suffered injuries in the attack, causing a temporary halt to airport operations for nearly an hour, leading to the cancellation of flights by German airline Lufthansa and Spanish Air Europa.
RBC Group's reporting also highlighted three assaults by the Houthis on the American aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman within a single day. Israel's Defense Minister, Israel Katz, denounced the Houthi attack, stating, "Anybody who threatens us will receive a sevenfold response."
The clash on October 7, 2023, between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas resulted in the death of over 1,200 people and the captivity of more than 250 hostages. But the Houthis, who support the Hamas fighters, have declared their intent to target ships related to Israel. Despite targeting commercial vessels of third countries, the Houthis have also aimed at targets within Jewish territory. The IDF responds with counterstrikes.
Interestingly, the Houthis have managed to escalate their attacks on Israel significantly starting from October 2023, with incidents impacting regional security and global shipping economically. Here's a summary of the major events:
October 7, 2023: Hamas instigates the Gaza War, earning support from the Houthis, who share the anti-Israel stance[1][5].
October 19, 2023: The Houthis started launching missiles and drones at Israel and demanded the ceasefire in Gaza[1].
October 2023-March 2024: Over 60 commercial vessels were attacked in the Red Sea, disrupting international trade routes[1].
January 15, 2025: A temporary ceasefire began in Gaza, easing hostilities[5].
March 18, 2025: Israel resumed its strikes in Gaza after the ceasefire lapsed, with the Houthis responding with renewed threats against shipping linked to Israel[4][5].
March-April 2025: The US accelerated air and naval strikes on Houthi missile sites and radio infrastructure[3][4].
Impact Analysis:
Targeted Israel: While confirmed strikes on Ben Gurion Airport aren't reported, the Houthis have aimed missiles and drones at Israeli territory, with many intercepted by Israeli or U.S. defenses[1][5].
Maritime Disruption: Attacks on Red Sea shipping (including Israeli-affiliated vessels) have forced rerouting, raised insurance costs, and caused economic losses of global scale, as two ships sank and one remains hijacked[1][2].
Regional Escalation: Attacks form part of a larger Iran-backed campaign that has also resulted in Hezbollah skirmishes in Lebanon and Iranian attacks on Israel in 2024[5].
Response from U.S. and International Bodies:
Military Intervention: Since March 2025, the U.S. has intensified air and naval strikes on Houthi missile sites and radio infrastructure[3][4].
Diplomatic Action: The Trump administration has characterized the crisis as part of efforts to challenge Iranian influence, with the goal of brokering a "grand bargain" in the Middle East[4].
The Houthis, originating from Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, have demonstrated a striking increase in their attacks on Israel starting from October 2023, as revealed by RBC Group's reporting.
Between October 2023 and March 2024, over 60 commercial vessels were targeted in the Red Sea, causing disruption to international trade routes and raising insurance costs
One of the significant events during this period was the Houthi attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, as declared by Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the group
According to Ynet, debris from the intercepted missile landed near Terminal 3 of Ben Gurion Airport, causing temporary airport operations to cease and leading to the cancellation of flights by German airline Lufthansa and Spanish Air Europa
