Houthi rebels in Yemen have claimed responsibility for a missile aimed at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, stating it was a response to Israeli airstrikes on Sana’a’s airport earlier on Friday, according to media reports.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the missile was intercepted before it could enter Israeli airspace, although residents in central Israel were advised to go to shelters due to potential debris. No hostile drones were reported over Tel Aviv.
This incident marked the latest in ongoing retaliatory actions between the two sides.
The IDF also targeted a power station and port facilities used for purportedly smuggling Iranian weapons. Reports said six people were killed in the strikes.
The Israeli strikes on Thursday were a response to a Houthi missile and drone attack directed at Israel on Wednesday. The Houthis began their attacks on Israel and its shipping in solidarity with Palestinians when the Gaza war escalated in October 2023.
A Houthi statement said that Israel’s strikes would “only strengthen” their resolve to support the Palestinian cause. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue military operations in Yemen, labeling the Houthis as a “terrorist entity” aligned with Iran. He stated, “We will persist until we complete the job.”
Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz oversaw the aerial operations, which involved 25 fighter jets targeting various sites across Yemen, including Sana’a international airport, where significant damage occurred. Reports indicated that four people were killed and 20 injured in the strikes.
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The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was present at Sana’a airport during the attack and reported that a crew member was injured. The WHO team was evacuated safely after the bombing.
IDF officials indicated that they have only used a fraction of their military capabilities against the Houthis so far. Military analysts noted that targeting a distant enemy like the Houthis presents unique challenges compared to operations in Gaza or against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
