Tel Aviv: A missile launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck near Israel’s main international gateway, Ben Gurion Airport, on Sunday, prompting chaos among travelers and triggering stern warnings of retaliation from Israel’s leadership.
The missile, which marked the first Houthi projectile in recent months to evade interception by Israeli defense systems, landed close to Terminal 3’s parking lot, causing a crater and injuring several people. The incident escalated already heightened tensions in the region, as Israeli officials blamed Iran for orchestrating the attack through its Houthi allies.
Tel Aviv airport canceled some flights and made passengers take shelter after a missile launched by Yemeni Houthi rebels landed near it, but resumed operations later https://t.co/fgTnf0Jzli pic.twitter.com/8KQNxsJta6
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 4, 2025
The Houthis swiftly claimed responsibility, stating that the strike was carried out in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
President Trump is absolutely right!
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) May 4, 2025
Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters. pic.twitter.com/eO4hyUzNsI
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack and directly linked it to Iran.
“Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,” Netanyahu posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In a separate video message, he added: “We will do what we need to do to take care of our security, to respond effectively, and to give Iran due warning that this cannot continue.”
A Reuters journalist on site reported hearing sirens and witnessed travelers fleeing toward secure areas. Visuals from the airport showed black smoke rising behind terminals and aircraft, while footage shared on social media depicted damage to surrounding roads.
According to the Israeli ambulance service, eight individuals were treated for mild to moderate injuries. Police commander Yair Hetzroni told reporters at the scene:
“You can see the scene right behind us here, a hole that opened up with a diameter of tens of metres and also tens of metres deep,” adding that there was no significant infrastructure damage.
The Israel Airports Authority confirmed that normal operations resumed shortly after the incident. However, several international airlines, including Lufthansa, Delta, ITA Airways, and Air France, canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv for the following days due to safety concerns.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree issued a statement after the strike, saying:
“Israel’s main airport was no longer safe for air travel.”
This latest escalation came as Israel’s security cabinet was reportedly close to approving the expansion of its ongoing military operations in Gaza. The conflict resumed in March following a fragile two-month ceasefire, and since then, the Houthis have intensified their attacks on Israeli territory and international shipping routes in the Red Sea.
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Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to reinstate a ceasefire have stalled. In March, then-U.S. President Donald Trump authorized large-scale strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in an effort to degrade their missile capabilities and protect maritime traffic. These American airstrikes have reportedly resulted in hundreds of casualties.
The Houthis began targeting Israeli territory and Red Sea shipping lanes in late 2023, shortly after the war in Gaza erupted. That conflict began following Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. Since then, Israel’s offensive has killed over 52,000 Palestinians, leaving vast portions of Gaza in ruins.
