Houthis target Israel's Ben Gurion Airport with hypersonic missile

Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed on July 29 that it had launched a hypersonic ballistic missile at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

In a prerecorded statement, broadcast by Al-Masirah channel, under the group's control, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree announced that the group had “successfully struck Lod Airport (Ben Gurion), located in the occupied Jaffa area,” using a “Palestine-2” hypersonic missile. 

Saree said the strike triggered widespread panic and disrupted flight operations.

However, the Israeli military reported that it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen earlier Tuesday evening. The launch prompted air raid sirens across the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and in Jerusalem, sending millions of Israelis into bomb shelters. No casualties or damage were reported.

The Houthis, backed by Iran, have conducted numerous missile and drone attacks against Israel since Hamas launched its assault in October 2023, igniting the Gaza war.

Though the Houthis suspended their attacks during a two-month truce in Gaza earlier this year, they resumed strikes after Israel restarted major military operations following the ceasefire’s expiration in March.

In response, Israel has carried out several retaliatory strikes inside Yemen, targeting Houthi-controlled ports and the airport in Sanaa, the rebel-held capital.

By Tamilla Hasanova