A missile launched on Sunday by Yemen’s Houthi rebels landed close to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s busiest international gateway, sending up a column of smoke and causing chaos among travelers inside the terminal.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed group, have recently escalated attacks on Israel, saying they stand in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Israeli police commander Yair Hetzroni showed reporters the large crater left behind near a road by Terminal 3’s parking area. “Behind us you can see the crater — tens of meters wide and deep,” he said, noting there was no major infrastructure damage.
Following the strike, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant issued a stern warning: “Those who harm us will face a sevenfold response.”
Sirens blared across central Israel, including Tel Aviv, moments before the missile hit. A Reuters journalist on the scene reported passengers scrambling toward secure rooms when the alarms sounded. Videos shared online, though not yet verified by Reuters, showed black smoke rising near parked aircraft and airport buildings.
Israel’s ambulance service reported eight people taken to hospitals, including one man with moderate limb injuries and two women with minor head injuries.
Despite brief disruptions, the Israel Airports Authority confirmed that takeoffs and landings had resumed, and normal airport operations were restored. However, Ben Gurion’s live flight tracker showed delays and cancellations, with some flights to destinations like Newark and JFK delayed around 90 minutes and others, like Air India and Lufthansa, canceled. A Reuters journalist boarded an on-time Dubai-bound flight.
Houthis Issue Airline Warning
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed responsibility, warning airlines that Ben Gurion Airport was “no longer safe” for flights.
The attack follows a March order by U.S. President Donald Trump for widespread military strikes on the Houthis to weaken their arsenal and deter attacks on Red Sea shipping routes.
Since late 2023, the Houthis have targeted Israel and maritime traffic in the Red Sea, linking their campaign to the Israel-Hamas war that erupted after Hamas-led attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 abducted. Israel’s military response in Gaza has killed over 50,000 Palestinians and devastated the region.
The Houthis recently vowed to widen their attack range against Israel following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire in Gaza in mid-March. Meanwhile, U.S. strikes on the Houthis have caused hundreds of casualties, marking the largest U.S. military offensive in the Middle East since Trump’s inauguration.