Houthis launch missile at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel injuring eight civilians, Defence Minister Katz warns of ‘sevenfold’ revenge
New Delhi: In a serious threat to Israel’s security, Houthi rebels from Yemen launched a ballistic missile on Sunday that landed near Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s biggest and busiest airport. The missile passed through air defences after several failed attempts by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to stop it, leading to a temporary shutdown of all flights at the airport.
The missile did not hit any buildings or terminals. It landed in a grove near a road inside the airport area, avoiding a major disaster. Later, the Israel Airports Authority said that the airspace was reopened and flight operations continued after the short break.
The IDF confirmed the strike in a statement, saying, “An impact was identified in the area of Ben Gurion Airport”. Israeli Air Force defence units are now investigating why the missile couldn’t be intercepted. The breach has raised serious questions about the strength of Israel’s air defence systems, especially around such a sensitive and high-security zone.
According to the Times of Israel, the missile fell near an access road and not on the terminal, but the fear and danger were real. Eight people were injured in the attack, according to Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency service.
A man in his 50s suffered trauma injuries to his arms and legs. Two women, aged 54 and 38, were affected by the shockwave but remained in stable condition. A 64-year-old man was hit by debris. Two more women, aged 22 and 34, were hurt while running to take shelter. Two others were treated for anxiety and panic. All of them were taken to hospitals in central Israel.
Since the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, Houthi rebels have been regularly firing missiles at Israel. Most of these missiles have been stopped by Israel’s defence systems, but a few have still managed to get through and caused damage.
After the attack, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz gave a strong warning: ‘Whoever harms us, we will strike them sevenfold’.
Until now, Israel has avoided directly attacking Yemen, even after multiple Houthi missile and drone attacks. The United States and the United Kingdom have been leading most of the military action against the Iran-backed Houthis. But this latest attack, targeting Israel’s main airport, may force Israel to respond directly and aggressively.
Meanwhile, the Houthis celebrated the strike. Senior leader Mohammed al-Bukhaiti told Al-Araby TV that they have ‘no red lines’ when it comes to fighting Israel. He also claimed that the group can hit highly sensitive Israeli sites. Their media head, Nasser al-Din Omar, even warned international airlines not to fly in or out of Israel, saying it puts planes in danger.
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