On Sunday, a ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen landed within the perimeter of Israel’s Ben Gurion airport, prompting Israeli officials to prepare for a response directed at Yemen or Iran.
The missile struck “a grove adjacent to the access road within the airport boundaries,” causing alarm in central Israel as it managed to bypass Israeli Defense Force (IDF) missile defenses, triggering sirens in the region.
Several individuals suffered minor injuries, including some who hurt themselves while rushing to bomb shelters.
Reports indicated that both Israeli Arrow systems and the U.S.-made THAAD were unable to intercept the missile.
The airport, a crucial link to the outside world for Israel, was shut down for an hour, leading foreign airlines to suspend flights for multiple days. Israeli leadership was reportedly convening to strategize a response.
In past reactions, Israel has targeted Houthi positions in Yemen, but given Iran’s support and funding for the Houthis, along with their involvement in missile attacks, there is speculation that Israel might decide to target Iran instead.
Former IDF chief Benny Gantz remarked on X: “This is not Yemen. This is Iran.”
President Donald Trump recently stated that Iran would face consequences for the Houthi missile strike. Meanwhile, the U.S. has been targeting Houthi sites in Yemen in recent weeks amid ongoing missile threats.
