BEN-GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Israel (AP) — A missile launched by Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen caused significant disruption at Ben-Gurion International Airport on Sunday, halting flights and commuter traffic. The missile landed near an access road, prompting panic among passengers. This incident occurred just hours before Israeli Cabinet ministers were scheduled to vote on whether to escalate military operations in Gaza, with the Israeli army calling up tens of thousands of reservists, as stated by Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the chief of staff.
This missile strike marked the first time during the current conflict that a projectile impacted the airport grounds since fighting intensified in Gaza. Initial assessments by the Israeli military suggested that a technical malfunction in the interceptor system contributed to the incident. According to Israel's paramedic service, Magen David Adom, four individuals suffered minor injuries due to the chaos that ensued.
As a result of the missile strike, multiple international airlines chose to cancel or postpone flights. The ongoing conflicts with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon had already led many airlines to suspend their operations to Israel, although some had resumed flights in recent months. The Houthis, the Yemeni rebels responsible for the attack, have stated that their targeting of Israel is in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, and they have gained increased recognition as part of Iran's "Axis of Resistance," being one of the few groups able to launch regular attacks on Israeli territory.
In a dramatic warning issued early Monday, the Houthis announced their intent to carry out "repeated targeting" of Ben-Gurion Airport, urging international airlines to cancel all flights to Israel to ensure the safety of their operations and passengers. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed that a hypersonic ballistic missile had been used in the attack on the airport.
Since the escalation of hostilities on October 7, 2023, Houthi rebels have consistently launched missiles at Israel. While many of these missiles have been intercepted, some have breached Israeli defenses, causing various degrees of damage. In response to these provocations, Israel has targeted Houthi sites in Yemen, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu highlighted U.S. support for Israel's counteractions against the rebels. Netanyahu indicated that the response to the Houthis and their Iranian backers would occur "at a time and place of our choosing."
Meanwhile, the Israeli Security Cabinet convened on Sunday evening to deliberate on expanding military engagement in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu outlined plans to target strategic areas and destroy significant infrastructure, both above and below ground. Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir expressed his desire for a robust escalation of military operations, suggesting that Israel should target food and electricity supplies in Gaza.
Following an earlier eight-week ceasefire with Hamas, which allowed increased aid into Gaza and the release of some Israeli hostages, hostilities resumed in March. Since then, Israeli military operations have recaptured vast areas of the coastal enclave, with local health officials reporting a significant increase in casualties. Hundreds of Palestinians have died as a result of the ongoing conflict, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where 2.3 million people face acute shortages and widespread hunger.
In a recent confrontation over efforts to support Gaza, Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed his country's offer to send a marine surveyor to assess an aid ship allegedly damaged by Israeli drones. However, the captain of the vessel declined the assistance. Activists claimed their ship was targeted while in international waters, but the Israeli military has refrained from commenting on the incident.
New Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of at least seven Palestinians, including young children, according to reports from Palestinian medics. The Israeli military has not released a statement regarding these casualties, but it confirmed the deaths of two soldiers in combat, raising the total military casualties since March to six. The current conflict, which began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, has left over 52,000 individuals dead in Gaza—many reported to be non-combatants, according to local health officials.
As the violence continues, more than 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, often multiple times, further deepening the crisis in the region.
