The ongoing conflict in the Middle East took another alarming turn as the Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for a missile attack targeting Israel's Ben Gurion Airport on Friday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed intercepting the ballistic missile before it reached Israeli airspace, prompting widespread alerts and the temporary halting of flight arrivals at the airport.
This marked a significant escalation in the tit-for-tat exchanges between the Iran-backed Houthis and Israel, which began after the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023. The Houthis declared their solidarity with Palestinians and have repeatedly launched missile and drone attacks aimed at Israel and Israeli shipping.
The latest attack followed Israeli airstrikes on Yemen, where fighter jets targeted the Sana'a International Airport and several key facilities, including a power station and port infrastructure near Hodeidah. The IDF claimed these sites were being used to smuggle Iranian weapons and host senior Iranian officials. Four people were killed, and 20 others injured in the strikes, according to Yemeni authorities.
"We will persist until we complete the job," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, reaffirming Israel's commitment to eliminating the Houthi threat. Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized, "We will hunt down all of the Houthis' leaders and strike them just as we have done in other places."
The Houthis also claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Tel Aviv and an assault on a container ship in the Arabian Sea. However, there were no confirmed reports of drones reaching Israel or any impact on maritime targets. The group vowed to continue their attacks until Israel lifts its siege on Gaza.
Meanwhile, military analysts expressed concerns about the challenges of countering the Houthis, a remote adversary operating in Yemen's chaotic landscape. "Assassinating seasoned terrorist leaders who know how to hide in a faraway, chaotic country isn't exactly a walk in the park," noted Yossi Yehoshua, a military commentator for Yedioth Ahronoth.
The situation has further complicated regional dynamics. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, was at Sana'a airport during the Israeli strikes, narrowly escaping harm. A member of his plane's crew was injured and underwent surgery, underscoring the broader humanitarian implications of the conflict.
As winter sets in and tensions remain high, hopes for a ceasefire remain elusive. Gaza continues to reel under the weight of Israeli military operations, with the death toll in the strip exceeding 45,000 since the conflict's resurgence last year.
