Houthis Claim Hypersonic Missile Strike on Israeli Airport, Israel Intercepts
The Houthi armed forces in Yemen have claimed responsibility for launching a hypersonic ballistic missile targeting Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Thursday, as per Al Jazeera.
The attack, which the Houthis dubbed a “qualitative military operation,” comes days after the Israeli army resumed military operations in Gaza, breaking a ceasefire.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree announced that the operation, using a “Palestine-2 hypersonic ballistic missile,” “successfully achieved its objective,” though he did not provide details on the specific impact. This marks the second such attack since the United States initiated a renewed campaign of airstrikes against the Houthis earlier this week.
According to the Israeli military, the missile was intercepted before it entered Israeli territory early Thursday morning. Sirens were activated in several areas across Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, following the launch.
Israeli police confirmed the sirens and Israel’s ambulance service reported no serious injuries as a result of the incident.
The escalation follows a recent surge in US airstrikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen, actions that have resulted in at least 31 deaths, according to reports. The Houthis have vowed to escalate their attacks in response to the US strikes and in retaliation for Israel’s renewed military actions in Gaza.
On Tuesday, the Houthis declared that they had fired a ballistic missile towards Israel and would broaden their range of targets in the coming days, citing Israel’s violation of the Gaza ceasefire as justification.
Since the resumption of Israeli attacks in Gaza on Tuesday, the Gaza Ministry of Health reports that at least 710 Palestinians have been killed and over 900 others injured.
The Houthis have launched over 100 attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the start of the war in Gaza in late 2023, claiming they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
In related news, US President Donald Trump reiterated his call for Iran to cease its support for the Houthis, promising that Washington will defeat the Yemeni group. However, the extent of Iranian control over the Houthis remains unclear, as does Tehran’s ability to compel them to halt their attacks.
