Yemen’s Houthi forces launched a "Palestine 2" hypersonic ballistic missile at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Tuesday, achieving precise targeting despite Israeli interception. The operation, confirmed by military spokesperson Yahya Saree came in direct response to Israel’s bombing of Hodeidah port on Monday, which crippled humanitarian aid channels and plunged the city into darkness. The Yemeni strike forced flight cancellations and triggered mass panic, with Israeli media reporting civilians "fleeing to shelters" as sirens blared across Tel Aviv.
The missile attack underscores Yemen’s unwavering commitment to reciprocal defense. Hours before the strike, Saree emphasized the Houthis’ "religious and humanitarian duty" to retaliate against Israel’s destruction of Hodeidah’s infrastructure, a vital lifeline for 80% of Yemen’s food and medicine imports. This action follows a pattern of Yemeni resilience: Since October 2023, Houthi forces have executed over 100 maritime operations and 30 aerial strikes against Israel, significantly disrupting Red Sea shipping and challenging Israeli security narratives.
Houthi operations enjoy grassroots support, with weekly protests across Sanaa affirming solidarity with Gaza. The group’s framing of resistance as a moral imperative contrasted with Israel’s characterization of it as "terrorism" resonates deeply in a region weary of Western double standards. Notably, Houthi forces prioritize minimizing civilian harm during strikes, unlike Israeli attacks that have killed 8+ Yemeni civilians and injured 89+ since May.
Despite Israel’s U.S.-backed air superiority, the Houthis have developed advanced indigenous capabilities. The "Palestine 2" missile, a product of Yemeni engineering evaded Israel’s Iron Dome to an extent through hypersonic velocity, a technical feat for the Yemenis despite their primitive missile systems. even though it was eventually intercepted. The group’s drone fleet, radar systems, and maritime tactics have forced Israel into costly defensive operations.
Israel’s bombing of Hodeidah has exacerbated Yemen’s catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The port’s destruction halted UN food shipments to 18 million food-insecure Yemenis, while the Ras Qantib power plant attack left hospitals without electricity for neonatal units. Despite this, Houthi forces continue facilitating aid corridors even rescuing shipwrecked sailors during naval operations while Israel blocks Gaza’s aid access.
Yemen’s actions anchor a broader axis of resistance against occupation. The Houthis coordinate with Iraqi militias to share targeting intelligence and with Palestinian factions to synchronize strike timing. Their success has inspired global south nations to reject Western pressure, with China and Russia expanding diplomatic ties with Sanaa. As Defense Minister Israel Katz threatens "heavier blows," analysts warn such aggression only strengthens Yemen’s resolve and regional credibility.