A missile fired from Yemen struck near the main terminal of Ben Gurion Airport early Sunday, injuring at least six people and briefly halting flights, according to Israeli authorities.
The missile, reportedly launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, landed beside a road near Terminal 3’s parking area, causing a large crater and sending a plume of black smoke into the sky. Unverified videos shared online appeared to show vehicles pulled over as motorists sought shelter moments before the impact.
Israeli media, citing emergency services, reported that four people were wounded by the blast itself, while two others were injured while trying to reach a shelter.
Though flights were briefly suspended as a precaution, airport officials confirmed that operations resumed later in the morning.
The Houthis, an Iran-aligned militia group based in Yemen, claimed responsibility for the strike. In a televised address, military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared that Ben Gurion Airport was “no longer safe for air travel.” The incident marks a rare breach of Israel’s multilayered air defence systems, which typically intercept such long-range threats.
Air raid sirens were activated across central Israel as the missile approached, but military officials admitted that the missile was not intercepted. The Israeli Air Force has launched an investigation into the failure of its defence systems.
Senior Israeli police commander Yair Hetzroni toured the site with journalists, pointing to a deep crater left by the missile near the airport perimeter. “There is a hole here with a diameter and depth of several tens of metres,” he said. “Fortunately, there is no major structural damage.”
In response to the attack, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant issued a warning, saying: “Anyone who hits us, we will hit them seven times stronger.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to convene a high-level security meeting on Sunday to discuss possible retaliatory actions, according to Channel 12 News.
The Houthis have routinely launched drones and missiles at Israel since the start of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, expressing solidarity with Hamas. While most attacks have been thwarted, this incident marks one of the closest strikes to Israel’s most vital international airport.
The group has also targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, prompting a U.S.-led military response that includes British support, further inflaming regional tensions.
