Israel’s defense forces successfully intercepted a ballistic missile launched from Yemen on Tuesday, after the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels fired it towards Ben Gurion International Airport in a bold escalation of regional tensions.
The Houthis, who have openly supported Hamas and Palestinian factions in Gaza, claimed responsibility for the attack. In a broadcasted statement, Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesperson, revealed that the missile used was a “Palestine 2” hypersonic ballistic missile, explicitly targeting Israel’s busiest airport in solidarity with Gaza.
The Israeli military confirmed the interception in a statement on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing that the missile was tracked and neutralized by the Israeli Air Force before it could reach Israeli airspace.
This latest missile strike comes amid a wave of cross-border hostilities that erupted following the October 7, 2023, Gaza conflict. Since then, the Houthis have launched multiple drone and missile attacks toward Israeli territory, with most of the projectiles being intercepted. However, these provocations have not gone unanswered, as Israel has carried out precision airstrikes against Houthi military infrastructure inside Yemen.
Beyond direct attacks on Israel, the Houthis have also disrupted international shipping lanes, targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming they are linked to Israeli interests. These maritime assaults have prompted several rounds of retaliatory airstrikes by a U.S.-led coalition aimed at neutralizing the Houthis’ operational capabilities.