In a troubling escalation, a missile launched from Yemen struck near Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday, briefly shutting down operations and raising alarms over the country’s air defense vulnerabilities.

The missile, reportedly fired by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, managed to bypass multiple interception attempts by Israel’s advanced defense systems. This marked the first time the group has successfully targeted Israel’s main international airport — a high-profile and heavily protected location.

For about 30 minutes Sunday morning, flights in and out of Ben Gurion Airport were suspended after the missile landed nearby. Trains were also halted, and police urged the public to avoid the area. Debris from the impact littered the roads leading to the terminal, and videos circulating on social media showed plumes of black smoke rising near the airport.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) acknowledged that several interception attempts were made using the Arrow missile defense system, and that the incident is under review. A U.S.-deployed THAAD anti-missile system is also stationed in Israel, but neither system prevented the missile’s impact.

The Houthi rebels quickly claimed responsibility, stating the attack was in response to what they called Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza. Spokesperson Yahya Saree said the missile used was a hypersonic ballistic missile, capable of traveling at speeds up to Mach 16 and equipped with stealth features.

“The American and Israeli defense systems failed to intercept the missile aimed at Ben Gurion Airport,” Saree said.

This incident comes amid ongoing Houthi attacks against Israel, with the group claiming to act in solidarity with Palestinians. Sunday’s strike marks the third consecutive day of missile launches from Yemen toward Israeli territory.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz promised a fierce retaliation, stating, “We will attack whoever attacks us sevenfold.” The country’s security cabinet convened later in the day to assess the situation.

Military analyst Amir Bar Shalom called the missile strike both accurate and deeply concerning. “If you’re launching from 2,000 kilometers and hitting near the airport — that’s impressive accuracy,” he told CNN. “We have to take this threat seriously.”

Bar Shalom noted that Israel’s military would investigate why the interception failed, considering variables such as radar detection, response timing, and missile trajectory.

Following the strike, several major European airlines suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings. Flights are expected to resume after May 6.

Meanwhile, Hamas praised the attack, referring to Yemen as “the twin of Palestine,” lauding its resilience and defiance of foreign aggression.

This isn’t the first time a Houthi missile has evaded Israel’s defenses. In December 2023, a similar failed interception led to a strike in Tel Aviv that injured over a dozen people. The Houthis claimed they had used another hypersonic missile, “Palestine 2,” targeting a military facility. In July, the group claimed responsibility for a deadly drone attack on the city — the first of its kind.

Israel has responded to Houthi threats by launching strikes on key facilities in Yemen, including ports and power stations. However, the broader U.S. military campaign — which includes airstrikes, B-2 stealth bombers, and hundreds of millions of dollars in munitions — has so far failed to stop the flow of missile attacks from Yemen.

According to estimates, the U.S. effort to counter Houthi missile launches has already cost nearly $1 billion within just three weeks earlier this year. Despite the scale and intensity of the campaign, the group continues to pose a serious threat to Israeli and regional security.

Source: CNN – Israel fails to intercept Houthi missile targeting its main airport, showing the limits of US efforts to weaken the group

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TEL AVIV, Israel — On Sunday, Israeli Cabinet ministers are scheduled to meet to decide whether to intensify military operations in the Gaza Strip, as the country prepares for a potential escalation in its ongoing conflict with Hamas. The Israeli military has already begun calling up thousands of reserve soldiers as part of the preparations for a larger assault.

At the same time, a missile attack from Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen caused a brief halt in air traffic at Israel’s main Ben-Gurion Airport. The Israeli military reported that a projectile landed near the airport, though it was unclear whether it was a missile or an interceptor fired by Israel’s defense system.

This latest escalation comes more than 18 months after the war in Gaza erupted and amid worsening humanitarian conditions in the territory. Israel’s efforts to pressure Hamas into negotiating a ceasefire on Israel’s terms have intensified, with the country halting the entry of goods into Gaza earlier this year. The blockade has plunged Gaza’s 2.3 million residents into what is considered the worst humanitarian crisis since the conflict began.

The Renewed Conflict and Rising Casualties

In March, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed after eight weeks of relative calm. The subsequent resumption of hostilities has resulted in significant casualties. Since then, Israel has launched extensive airstrikes on Gaza, capturing large portions of the coastal enclave. According to Palestinian health officials, hundreds of Palestinians, many of them women and children, have been killed. On the Israeli side, at least six soldiers have died in the renewed fighting.

Israel’s influential security Cabinet will meet on Sunday evening to vote on whether to escalate the conflict. While details of the potential plan remain unclear, Israeli officials have confirmed that the country is calling up thousands of reserve soldiers in preparation for further military action.

Far-Right Calls for Escalation

Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has expressed strong support for expanding the war. Speaking to Israeli Army Radio, Ben-Gvir emphasized the need for a “powerful” increase in military intensity, though he stopped short of providing specifics.

“We need to increase the intensity and continue until we achieve total victory. We must win a total victory,” Ben-Gvir said.

The war began when Hamas militants launched a deadly attack on southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. In response, Israel’s military offensive has been relentless, with devastating effects on Gaza’s population.

Gaza’s Devastation and Growing Displacement

As the fighting continues, Gaza has been left in ruins. Over 52,000 Palestinians have died, with many casualties being women and children. Health officials in Gaza report that the death toll continues to rise, while the fighting has displaced more than 90% of the population, often forcing people to flee multiple times. Widespread hunger has sparked looting, further compounding the crisis.

In addition to the devastation in Gaza, Israel has faced continued attacks from the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who launched a missile at Israel on Sunday. The missile triggered air raid sirens across much of the country, and a large plume of smoke was seen rising near Ben-Gurion Airport. Passengers in the airport scrambled for cover as authorities responded to the threat. Though there were no major casualties, Israeli paramedics reported that four people were lightly wounded.

Israel’s Response and Vow of Retaliation

In response to the missile attack, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed swift retribution. “Whoever harms us, we will harm them sevenfold,” Katz said, signaling Israel’s commitment to retaliating for any attacks against its territory.

As tensions mount, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution to the ongoing violence that has claimed so many lives and devastated entire communities.

Source: AP News – Israeli Cabinet ministers to vote on whether to expand Gaza fighting

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