US strikes rock Yemen's capital after Houthis target Israeli airport

Yemen’s Houthi movement on May 5 accused the United States of carrying out approximately 10 air strikes in and around the capital, Sanaa, following the group’s missile attack that struck near Israel’s main international airport.

The strikes included two on Arbaeen Street in the capital and another along the airport road, with the group labelling the incidents as “American aggression”, Caliber.Az reports per Arab media.

The Houthis’ health ministry reported that 14 people were wounded in the Sawan neighbourhood as a result of the strikes, Saba said.

The escalation follows a missile attack by the Iran-backed group that landed near the main terminal of Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on May 4, wounding six individuals. The Israeli military confirmed the strike, saying it had left a large crater within the airport’s perimeter, despite “several attempts... to intercept the missile”.

In a video released on Telegram, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared: “It will not happen in one bang, but there will be many bangs.” He added that Israel had previously “acted against” the Houthis and “will act in the future”.

Later, in a post on X, Netanyahu warned that Israel would also respond to Iran “at a time and place of our choosing”.

In response to the airport strike, several international airlines suspended their flights to Israel. The Houthis subsequently warned that more attacks were planned and advised airlines to cancel flights to Israeli airports.

A police video released after the incident showed officers standing near a deep crater with a control tower in the background. Although no damage was reported to airport infrastructure, an AFP photographer confirmed the missile hit close to Terminal 3’s parking area — the airport’s busiest terminal.

“You can see the area just behind us: a crater was formed here, several dozen metres wide and several dozen metres deep,” said Yair Hezroni, police chief for central Israel.

An Israeli military spokesperson told AFP that it was “the first time” a missile had struck directly within the airport’s perimeter.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, stating their forces had “carried out a military operation targeting Ben Gurion airport” using a “hypersonic ballistic missile”. Later, the group’s military spokesperson Yayha Saree reaffirmed the warning: “particularly the one in Lod, called Ben Gurion”, would remain a target, urging airlines to avoid Israeli airports.

Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency service, said it treated six people with light to moderate injuries.

An AFP journalist present inside the airport at the time of the attack reported hearing a “loud bang” at approximately 9:35 am local time (0635 GMT). “The reverberation was very strong,” the journalist said, adding that “security staff immediately asked hundreds of passengers to take shelter, some in bunkers.”

Flights resumed shortly after a brief suspension, with Israel’s aviation authority confirming Ben Gurion Airport was “open and operational”.

The missile strike came shortly before Israel’s security cabinet convened for an emergency session. Army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir later confirmed plans to expand the military campaign in Gaza.

“This week we are issuing tens of thousands of orders to our reservists to intensify and expand our operation in Gaza,” said Zamir. The army would seek to destroy Hamas infrastructure “both on the surface and underground,” he added.

Throughout the war in Gaza, the Houthis have launched repeated missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, claiming solidarity with Palestinians.

The US military has conducted air strikes against the Houthis since the Gaza conflict escalated. Initial strikes began under former President Joe Biden, but have reportedly intensified under his successor, Donald Trump.

By Aghakazim Guliyev