On Sunday night, the Houthi terror group declared their intention to establish a “comprehensive air blockade” against Israel, claiming responsibility for a series of attacks on Israeli airports as part of that effort.
Earlier that day, a missile launched by the Houthis struck near Terminal 3 of Ben-Gurion Airport, lightly injuring three individuals. The attack marked a serious escalation, as it directly impacted the country’s main international airport.
According to Israeli military sources who spoke with The Jerusalem Post, the missile was not intercepted due to a technical malfunction in the defense system, which failed to respond in time.
Houthi military spokesman Brig.-Gen. Yahya Saree wrote on Telegram that the attack was intended as retaliation for Israel’s widening campaign against Hamas in Gaza. This military escalation had just been approved by Israel’s security cabinet during a meeting on Friday evening, which also included plans to call up several reserve brigades.
In his Telegram statement, Saree warned that “all international airlines” should factor in the Houthis’ targeting of Israeli airports in their flight operations. He urged them to “cancel all scheduled flights to the airports of the ‘criminal enemy’ to preserve the safety of their aircraft and their agents.”
The missile strike prompted an emergency meeting of Israel’s security cabinet, which convened hours after the impact to discuss a potential response to the attack. A senior Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that authorities are now reviewing the country’s current strategy regarding Yemen.
“We’ve acted against them in the past, and we’ll act again in the future,” Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said.
{Matzav.com Israel}