New Delhi: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday vowed a series of retaliatory strikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels, following a missile attack that landed near Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s primary international gateway.
The Iran-backed Houthis claimed responsibility for the launch, saying it was an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In a video shared on his personal X account, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that Israel’s response to the Houthi missile strike would not be a “one-and-done” action and “there will be blows” in response to the attack.
“We are acting against them,” the Israeli premier said, referring to previous Israeli Defence Force (IDF) operations against the Houthis in Yemen. “We have acted in the past, and we will act in the future. I cannot detail everything. The United States, in coordination with us, is also acting against them. It’s not a one-and-done, but there will be blows,” said Netanyahu.
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned of a strong retaliation after a missile fired by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. “Whoever harms us, we’ll harm them sevenfold,” he said.
The ballistic missile landed just 75 meters from Terminal 3, one of Israel’s most secure areas, creating a 25-meter-deep crater. It reportedly slipped through four layers of air defence, including the US-made THAAD and Israel’s Arrow systems. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said multiple attempts to intercept the missile failed. Though it didn’t hit the terminal directly, it triggered panic among passengers and caused visible smoke. Eight people were injured, according to Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the response won’t be limited to a single strike and warned the Houthis of repeated attacks. The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying the attack was in support of Palestinians in Gaza. Their spokesperson declared Israel’s main airport “no longer safe.”
The strike came as Israel prepares to expand its military operations in Gaza. Meanwhile, earlier US airstrikes in Yemen, ordered by President Donald Trump in March, killed hundreds in an effort to stop the Houthis from attacking Red Sea shipping lanes.
