Missile from Yemen lands near Israel’s main airport

DDM News

A missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen landed near Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on Sunday morning.

According to Diaspora digital media (DDM), the incident triggered widespread alarm and has further intensified tensions in the region.

The missile strike sent a thick plume of smoke into the air and caused panic among passengers inside the airport terminal.

Ben Gurion Airport, which is Israel’s main international airport, is located near the city of Tel Aviv.

Airport authorities confirmed that the missile landed beside a road close to the Terminal 3 parking lot.

Israeli police sealed off the area shortly after the impact and began investigating the scene.

Senior Israeli police commander Yair Hetzroni briefed reporters near the site of the explosion.

“You can see the scene right behind us here, a hole that opened up with a diameter of tens of metres and also tens of metres deep,” Hetzroni said.

Although there were no reports of casualties, the impact highlighted serious concerns about Israel’s air defence vulnerabilities.

Israel’s Iron Dome and other missile interception systems have previously managed to stop most incoming threats.

However, this particular missile evaded interception and made direct impact near a major transportation hub.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the launch and provided details on the attack timeline.

“Today (Sunday), at approximately 9:18 a.m. (0618 GMT), the IDF identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory,” a military spokesperson said.

“Several attempts were made to intercept the missile. A hit was identified in the area of Ben Gurion Airport,” the IDF added.

Sirens were triggered in several Israeli locations to alert citizens to the incoming threat.

Passengers and staff at the airport reportedly scrambled for safety during the alert.

Following the incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a public statement.

“We attacked in the past, we will attack in the future,” he said, signaling possible military retaliation.

Israel’s Channel 12 News reported that Netanyahu held an emergency meeting with top security and defence officials.

The goal of the meeting was to discuss Israel’s response to the Houthi attack.

The Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, claimed responsibility for the missile strike.

They stated that their actions were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Since the outbreak of the Gaza war in late 2023, the Houthis have escalated their missile and drone attacks on Israel.

The group is aligned with Iran and has grown increasingly active in regional conflicts.

While most Houthi attacks have been intercepted by Israeli defences, Sunday’s incident demonstrated a dangerous breach.

The Houthis gained control of Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in 2014, and have since been at war with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government.

They have expanded their operations to include attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.

Their recent actions appear to follow Iran’s broader strategy of pressuring Israel through allied militias and proxy groups.

Analysts suggest the Houthis’ involvement adds another layer of complexity to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The use of long-range missiles from Yemen increases the risk of drawing Israel into direct military engagement in that region.

Such developments could destabilize the wider Middle East and drag more countries into the crisis.

Security experts have warned that Iran’s support of proxy groups could provoke a multi-front conflict.

Israel’s military has promised to review the failure to intercept the missile and improve its defence readiness.

Airport operations resumed hours later, but under heightened alert and increased military presence.

The psychological impact of the attack on civilians and travelers remains significant.

Public confidence in Israel’s ability to shield its core infrastructure has been shaken.

International observers are watching closely to see how Israel will respond militarily.

The IDF has launched a full investigation and is considering several response options.

Tensions across the region remain high, with fears of further escalation.

The Ben Gurion missile strike is a stark reminder of the widening scope of the Israel-Gaza war.

It also highlights the growing influence of non-state actors like the Houthis in regional warfare.

Israel’s leadership faces the challenge of containing these threats while managing ongoing conflicts on multiple fronts.

The next few days may prove critical in determining whether this incident leads to broader military operations in Yemen.

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