Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged a fierce response after a ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck near Ben Gurion International Airport, injuring eight people and halting air traffic.
The incident, which unfolded on Sunday, represents a significant escalation in regional hostilities and has prompted new warnings directed at Iran, accused of backing the attackers.
The missile, fired by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, landed on a road within the perimeter of Israel’s busiest airport.
Verified visuals published by Al Jazeera revealed a damaged vehicle and shattered infrastructure, underscoring the severity of the strike.
In the immediate aftermath, flight operations were suspended, and travelers faced widespread disruption.
Despite attempts to intercept the projectile using Israel’s defense array, including the domestically developed Arrow system and the U.S.-supplied THAAD, military officials confirmed the missile evaded all efforts.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the failure of the defense systems.
Netanyahu, taking to social media shortly after the attack, directly blamed Tehran and promised retribution, “Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters.”
Behind the scenes, reports suggest Netanyahu is pressing Washington for backing in a coordinated military strike on Iran. At the same time, the U.S. continues to engage Iran through diplomatic backchannels in an attempt to prevent full-scale conflict.
Responding via Iranian state television, Iran’s Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh issued a stern counter-warning, “If this war is initiated by the US or the Zionist regime [Israel], Iran will target their interests, bases and forces, wherever they may be and whenever deemed necessary.”
He maintained that the Houthis act independently and are not under Tehran’s direct command.
In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree confirmed their responsibility for the strike and issued a chilling caution to international carriers, “Ben Gurion airport was no longer safe for air travel.”
He added that the group would enforce “a comprehensive air blockade.”
The missile’s impact caused widespread travel chaos. Flights were either diverted or canceled outright, train access to the airport was suspended, and surrounding roads were shut down. International airlines including Lufthansa, Air France, Air India, Wizz Air, and others halted services, some extending cancellations for days.
Air raid sirens blared throughout central Israel, forcing civilians to seek shelter. Online footage showed debris strewn across an internal road at the airport.
Netanyahu, in a separate statement delivered in Hebrew, vowed to respond with force, “Israel and the US will act against them again in the future,” he said. “There will be no Hamas in Gaza.”
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed the prime minister’s aggressive tone, “Whoever attacks us, we will hit back sevenfold.”
Drawing from scripture to stress Israel’s stance on retribution.
Former war cabinet member and opposition leader Benny Gantz attributed the strike to Iran as well, “It is Iran that is firing ballistic missiles at the state of Israel, and it must bear responsibility,”
Domestically, critics have begun to question the government’s strategy. Opposition figure Yair Golan voiced frustration with the continued violence and its toll on Israeli citizens, “Millions of Israelis are in shelters again,” he said. “Israeli captives held in Gaza are dying, the cost of living is crushing families and reservists are collapsing under the burden.
“This is big for Netanyahu, this is big for the government,” Golan added. “We must return the kidnapped people home and end the war.”
Meanwhile, the Houthi group remains undeterred by persistent U.S. airstrikes targeting their positions. Following Sunday’s incident, Houthi-aligned media outlets reported new American bombing raids across Yemen.
According to Al Masirah TV, U.S. forces launched strikes in multiple areas, including the Khab and ash-Shaaf district in al-Jawf, ten air raids on al-Hazm, and attacks on regions in Marib and Saada. Details on casualties or damage remain scarce.
This latest missile strike deepens the already volatile situation in the region, which has seen spiraling violence since the onset of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Palestinian health officials report over 52,495 deaths to date, including 57 from starvation since a full blockade began on March 2.
