Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed it launched a domestically produced hypersonic ballistic missile targeting Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, located near Tel Aviv, late Thursday. The announcement was made by Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Sari, who described the strike as part of a broader retaliatory campaign in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Sari stated that the missile strike achieved its intended objective, triggering panic and forcing “millions of illegal settlers” to seek refuge in shelters. He emphasized that the action was carried out in solidarity with the Palestinian people, citing the escalating violence in Gaza, ongoing humanitarian blockade, and the failure of Muslim states to intervene.
“The Yemeni armed forces, alongside the freedom fighters of our nation, view this as a religious, moral, and humanitarian obligation,” Sari said. He added that Yemen will continue to escalate its military operations until Israeli aggression ceases and the blockade on Gaza is fully lifted.
Sari also warned of a total air blockade on Ben Gurion Airport and a continued maritime blockade in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, targeting vessels with links to Israel. According to Mehr News, these actions are part of a wider strategy to pressure the international community to halt arms shipments to Israel and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The Houthis have previously carried out drone and missile attacks targeting Israeli-linked assets, but this marks a significant escalation in both the type of weapon used and the directness of the target. The group has vowed that strikes will persist until Israel ends its military operations in Gaza.
