Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised strong and sustained military retaliation after a missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels landed dangerously close to Ben Gurion International Airport—Israel’s primary gateway to the world.
The Iran-backed Houthi group claimed responsibility for the ballistic missile attack, framing it as an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The missile, which reportedly bypassed four layers of Israel’s advanced air defense systems, struck just 75 meters from Terminal 3, one of the airport’s busiest and most secure areas.
The impact left a crater roughly 25 meters deep near an access road within the airport perimeter—raising serious concerns about vulnerabilities in Israel’s homeland defense.
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In a video posted to his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Netanyahu did not mince words. “We are acting against them. We have acted in the past, and we will act in the future,” he said, referring to past Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations targeting the Houthis in Yemen. “This is not a one-and-done. There will be blows.”
Netanyahu also acknowledged close coordination with the United States in response efforts, hinting at joint military planning and strategic cooperation to counter threats from the Iran-aligned militia.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, echoed the prime minister’s message with a stern warning: “Whoever harms us, we’ll harm them sevenfold.”
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The Houthi missile strike marks a serious escalation in regional tensions, as it directly targets Israeli infrastructure far from the immediate conflict zones. The attack also underscores the increasing range and precision of the Houthis’ missile capabilities—raising alarms about the group’s growing role in broader Middle Eastern conflicts.
This latest provocation comes amid intensifying violence in Gaza and heightened rhetoric from Iran-aligned groups across the region. It also raises critical questions about the preparedness of Israel’s air defense systems, given the missile’s ability to breach multiple protective layers.
As regional powers watch closely, Netanyahu’s vow of a multi-phase response suggests that more military action in Yemen—and potentially beyond—is imminent.
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