Missile Attack Near Ben Gurion Airport Raises Tensions in Israel

A missile launched from Yemen struck near Israel's Ben Gurion airport on Sunday morning, according to Israeli authorities. Witnesses shared unverified videos of nearby vehicles halting as the projectile landed, resulting in a substantial plume of smoke. Reports indicate that four individuals were injured in the blast, while two others were hurt en route to safety shelters. In response, Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, declared, "Anyone who hits us, we will hit them seven times stronger." The Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed in a media address that the airport was "no longer safe for air travel." Although flights were briefly halted, the airport has since reopened. As the missile approached, alarms sounded across multiple regions, and the Israeli Air Force is probing the interception failure. Local reports revealed a sizable crater at the impact site, and though Houthis routinely unleash missile attacks at Israel in support of Hamas, such breaches of Israeli air defenses are uncommon. The Houthis have intensified actions targeting vessels in the Red Sea since November 2023, prompting a U.S.-led bombing operation, with U.K. involvement, against the group.