Houthi missile lands near Tel Aviv airport on Sunday
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed several retaliatory actions against Yemen’s Houthi rebels after a missile fired by the Iran-supported group hit near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday.
In a video message posted shortly after the attack, Netanuahu said, “We operated against them in the past and we will operate in the future”. “It’s not ‘bang — that’s it, but there will be bangs,” the Prime Minister affirmed.
The Houthis, who have recently intensified missile strikes on Israel to demonstrate their support for Palestinians in Gaza, fired a missile that struck close to Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s primary international gateway, producing a cloud of smoke and causing alarm among travelers. Certain reports indicated the potential for several injuries in the event.
The strike occurred as reports indicated that Israeli ministers were near finalizing plans to broaden the military campaign in Gaza, which restarted in March after a two-month ceasefire.
Israel cabinet to discuss the next step in Gaza offensive
Netanyahu, in his video address, stated that his cabinet would deliberate on the next phase of the Gaza offensive this evening, reiterating that the military initiative seeks to “defeat Hamas.”
“We are concentrating on two missions. First, to return our captives. Secondly, to overcome Hamas. Hamas will not endure — you have to understand this,” stated the Israeli Prime Minister, who further added, “In conflicts, you arrive at a conclusion — success.
First time a missile hit the airport
This marked the initial instance of a missile hitting the airport since the conflict started in October 2023, as Israel’s missile defense systems have intercepted the majority of assaults from Yemen. Numerous global airlines, such as Air India, halted flights to Tel Aviv after the incident.
A high-ranking Israeli police officer, Yair Hetzroni, displayed to journalists a crater created by the missile’s impact, which airport officials reported landed next to a roadway near a parking lot for Terminal 3.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz also promised revenge, stating, “Whoever attacks us, we will strike them seven times harder.”
The Houthis, who oversee large areas of Yemen, started attacking Israel and Red Sea maritime routes in late 2023, coinciding with the initial phase of the conflict between Hamas and Israel in Gaza. Subsequently, they initiated direct missile attacks on Israel.
The Israeli military has retaliated against the Houthi insurgents in Yemen, while the US, Israel’s key ally, initiated a series of strikes against them in March.
