Israel Bombs Yemen After Houthi Missile Hits Ben Gurion Airport

Israel launched airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Monday evening, retaliating for a ballistic missile attack that struck Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv hours earlier, injuring four people.

Israel’s military confirmed carrying out 48 airstrikes against Houthi “terrorist targets” in Yemen’s Red Sea city of Hodeida, including Hodeida Port—the country’s second-largest port and a critical hub for 80% of its food imports.

The strikes mark Israel’s first military response in Yemen in months and escalates regional tensions amid the ongoing Gaza war.

On Sunday, a Houthi-launched ballistic missile struck Ben Gurion Airport, temporarily halting flights and commuter traffic. The attack, which injured four, was the first successful strike on the heavily defended airport since the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed immediate retaliation, stating in a video on social media:

The Houthis, officially known as Ansarallah, claimed responsibility for the missile attack and announced an “air blockade” on Israel, urging international airlines to cancel flights to Ben Gurion Airport. “We will impose a comprehensive air blockade by repeatedly targeting airports,” the group declared.

Humanitarian Concerns and Regional Fallout
The strikes on Hodeida Port risk worsening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, where millions rely on imports for food and aid. A Houthi-operated oil company announced fuel shortages due to recent U.S. strikes on Ras Issa port, complicating supply chains.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu warned that Israel would “not tolerate” Houthi aggression, linking the group’s actions to Iranian support. “They act with their patron Iran’s direction and support,” he told Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, an allegation which both Iran and Yemen have consistently denied