Sanaa (South24 Center)

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In a significant escalation, Yemen's Houthi group announced on Sunday morning (May 4) its responsibility for targeting Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport with a hypersonic ballistic missile, causing injuries and temporarily suspending civilian air traffic, while Israeli and American defense systems failed to intercept the projectile.

According to a statement by the Israeli military, the missile was launched from Yemeni territory and was tracked during its flight toward Israeli airspace. Despite three interception attempts using Israel's "Arrow-Hetz" and the U.S. "THAAD" systems, the missile penetrated air defenses and landed near Ben Gurion Airport, creating a crater estimated to be 25 meters deep.

A massive explosion was heard in the vicinity of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, while warning sirens sounded in several areas. Aerial images showed thick columns of smoke rising from the impact site. Israel's Channel 12 confirmed that the missile bypassed four layers of air defenses, indicating a qualitative development in Houthi missile capabilities.

In an official statement, the Houthis stated that the operation was in response to Israel's ongoing aggression against Gaza, describing the missile used as a "precision hypersonic ballistic missile" that "successfully hit its target."

Nasr al-Din Amer, deputy head of the group's media authority, noted that the operation aimed to shut down Ben Gurion Airport and halt air traffic until the siege on Gaza is lifted.

#BREAKING
Israeli media releases video documenting moment Houthi missile fell near control tower at Ben Gurion Airport#south24pic.twitter.com/j45PrbxLFf

— South24 | English (@South24E) May 4, 2025

The attack, which occurred at the start of Israel's workweek, resulted in injuries to at least eight people, according to Israeli emergency services, including direct casualties and others who suffered panic attacks while fleeing to shelters. Authorities were forced to temporarily close the airport and suspend all incoming and outgoing flights, while an Indian airliner was redirected moments before landing.

European airlines, including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Eurowings, announced the suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv until May 6, reflecting growing concerns about repeated targeting.

Political reactions were swift, with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant describing the attack as a blatant violation of Israeli sovereignty, stating in a brief statement: "Whoever strikes us, we will strike them sevenfold."

Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz went further, directly accusing Iran of being behind the attack and calling for retaliation against Tehran.

The Houthi attack comes amid escalating Israeli military operations in Gaza, where more than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The Houthis claim their military operations are in response to "genocide" and in defense of Palestinians.

Notably, this attack marks the first successful targeting of Ben Gurion Airport, one of Israel's most heavily fortified facilities.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting of the security cabinet following the incident, while the Defense Ministry launched an urgent investigation into the defensive failure, amid calls from officials to change engagement rules with the Houthis and conduct direct strikes on their positions in Yemen.

Netanyahu said after a security meeting that Israel intends to respond to Houthi attacks, noting that these attacks originate from Iran.

Meanwhile, the head of the so-called Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, held a meeting with Houthi military leaders in a room with its walls covered. Al-Mashat vowed further escalation, stating, “We warned the Americans in every way, but they paid no attention to our warnings.”

Meeting of Houthi military leaders following the attack on Ben Gurion Airport (Houthi media)

In parallel, Iran threatened to respond to any attack against it by Israel or the United States, according to remarks made by the Iranian Defense Minister on state television.

Attention now turns to the nature of Israel's response to the Houthis. Israeli warplanes previously bombed Houthi-linked targets in Hodeidah and Sanaa in July and December 2024 and January 2025, including Hodeidah port.