Sanaa, August 5:
Yemen’s Houthi military group has claimed responsibility for launching a fresh missile attack on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel on Tuesday, marking the latest in a series of strikes aimed at showing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
According to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea, the group fired a “hypersonic ballistic missile” targeting the Israeli airport. The statement, aired on the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, claimed the attack was in response to the ongoing Israeli military campaign and blockade in Gaza. Israeli defence systems reportedly intercepted the missile.
Sarea emphasized that such operations would continue until the Israeli aggression in Gaza ends and the blockade is lifted. “Our missile attacks will persist until the war on Gaza stops,” he said, urging the Arab and Muslim world to support Palestinians by breaking the siege and delivering humanitarian aid.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have stepped up their missile and drone attacks against Israeli targets and shipping lanes since November 2023. Their strikes have frequently targeted central Israel, particularly the Ben Gurion Airport, as symbolic gestures of support for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
This latest attack follows similar incidents on July 10 and July 19, when the Houthis also launched ballistic and hypersonic missiles at the same airport. On both occasions, Sarea claimed the attacks had “achieved their goals,” though Israeli defence forces confirmed interceptions.
The group has also threatened Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea, declaring it part of their broader strategy to pressure Israel into ending military operations in Gaza and lifting the blockade.
The growing involvement of the Houthis adds another layer of complexity to the Israel-Gaza conflict, expanding its geopolitical implications beyond the immediate region.