Yemen's Houthis announce ‘Qualitative' attack on Israel's main airport
Shafaq News/ On Friday, Yemen's Ansarallah (Houthis) movement announced it launched a long-range ballistic missile and an advanced drone at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport and a strategic site in the city of Yaffa, calling it a 'qualitative military operation.'
In a statement, the group asserted the use of a hypersonic missile and a 'Yaffa-type' drone, claiming both 'successfully achieved its goal.' They further alleged the attack disrupted operations at the airport and caused panic in surrounding areas, despite Israeli claims that the projectile was intercepted.
Houthis also reiterated warnings to international airlines, urging them to halt flights to Israel. 'The ban on air navigation to the airports of occupied Palestine, as well as the ban on the passage of Israeli ships through the Red and Arabian Seas, in addition to supportive operations, will continue until the aggression on Gaza stops and the blockade is lifted,' the group vowed.
#معركة_الفتح_الموعود_والجهاد_المقدس pic.twitter.com/qc4RqtZPun
— العميد يحيى سريع (@army21yemen) May 9, 2025
The announcement came as the Israeli military revealed intercepting a missile launched from Yemen, which triggered alarms across the Gush Dan and HaShfela regions, with blasts reportedly heard near Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
While initial reports suggested the missile was stopped mid-air, Israeli media specified that the Arrow (Hetz) defense system carried out the interception after the US-supplied THAAD system reportedly failed to engage the target.
#عاجل اعتراض صاروخ أطلق من اليمن وسبب في تفعيل انذارات في عدة مناطق في البلاد
— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) May 9, 2025
The launch follows a series of Israeli airstrikes on Yemen's capital, Sanaa, carried out in retaliation for a recent Houthi missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport. The Israeli assault targeted key infrastructure, including Sanaa's international airport, power facilities, and industrial sites.
Houthis have maintained a campaign of missile and drone attacks against Israel, which the group claims are in response to Israel's ongoing war in Gaza that killed over 61,709 civilians and injured morethan111,588.
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