The IDF has acknowledged its failure to intercept a projectile that landed near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck Israel’s primary airport with a ballistic missile on Sunday morning. The missile impacted a wooded area adjacent to an access road within the Ben Gurion Airport perimeter, near Tel Aviv. Reports indicate that at least six individuals sustained injuries.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed their unsuccessful attempts to intercept the incoming missile.
“An impact has been identified in the vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport,” the IDF stated via Telegram. The Israeli Air Force has launched an investigation into the interception failure.
Over the past year, the Houthis, who govern western Yemen, including its capital and the port city of Hodeidah, have launched drones and missiles targeting commercial ships traversing the Red Sea and locations within Israel. These actions are intended to pressure West Jerusalem concerning its military operations in Gaza, which were initiated following a deadly assault by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in October 2023. The Houthis have stated they would cease attacks if Israel ends its Gaza operation.
Israel has refrained from retaliatory strikes against Yemen in response to Houthi attacks. However, the US initiated air and naval strikes against Houthi targets in March, citing threats to Red Sea shipping. The previous week, US President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to escalate strikes within Yemen, warning that the Houthis faced “complete annihilation” if their attacks persisted. The UK has also participated in these strikes, with the Defense Ministry reporting the targeting of a Houthi-controlled facility.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused Iran of providing arms to the Houthis, warning of repercussions. Tehran denied these accusations. Nevertheless, the US announced extensive sanctions on nations purchasing Iranian oil or petrochemicals on Thursday, citing, among other factors, Tehran’s alleged role in fomenting conflict in the Middle East.
Russia has called on Washington to cease its strikes on Yemen. During a phone conversation in March with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged an immediate cessation of the use of force and called for all parties to engage in political negotiations.