2025 Houthi attack on Tel Aviv airport

Since October 2023, the Houthis had been targeting shipping in the Red Sea and launching ballistic missile and drone attacks on Israeli cities—including a successful drone attack on Tel Aviv in July 2024—in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza war. The group halted their attacks following the January 2025 ceasefire, but resumed them as soon as Israel broke the truce. In March 2025, the United States, under the Trump administration, launched large-scale aerial and naval strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. == Attack ==

In the morning of 4 May, at around 9:30 a.m. IST, a Houthi hypersonic ballistic missile—which the Houthis claim to have stealth technology, a range of , and a speed sixteen times the speed of sound Eight Israelis were injured. Footage showed drivers on a road pulling over as the missile landed, creating a plume of black smoke near the airport. The Israel Defense Forces blamed "a technical issue with the interceptor launched toward the missile" for the successful Houthi missile, although it stated that it found "no malfunction" in the detection procedure. The attack resulted in the brief suspension of flights at the airport, with some having to be redirected. All entrances to the airport were closed temporarily while train journeys were stopped. Several major airlines announced they were canceling their flights for a few days, including British Airways, Lufthansa, Air Europa, Air France, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, and Wizz Air. == Analysis ==

Military affairs analyst for Israel's Army Radio, Amir Bar Shalom, said the missile attack was "very accurate if you’re launching from 2,000 kilometers, it’s impressive," and that "you have to take this threat seriously." == Aftermath ==

The day following the attack, the Israeli Air Force began bombing targets in Hodeidah with more than 30 aircraft, attacking nine Houthi targets using approximately 50 munitions. Among the attack targets was the Bajil Cement Factory east of the city. Reports from Yemen indicated there were dead and wounded at the cement factory. Houthi-linked media reported two people were killed and 42 others were injured. According to an Israeli security source: "We destroyed Hodeidah port and concrete factories that were used for manufacturing weapons." The following day, Israel bombed Sanaa International Airport, effectively disabling it. == Reactions ==

• : The Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the attack "in rejection" of Israel's "genocide in Gaza". Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said in a televised statement that Ben Gurion Airport was "no longer safe for air travel" and that "the American and Israeli defense systems failed to intercept the missile aimed" at the airport. On the same day, U.S. forces struck an area south of Sanaa with three air attacks. Despite this, the U.S. reached a ceasefire deal with the Houthis on 6 May. • : Hamas praised the attack, calling Yemen "the twin of Palestine, as it continues to defy the most brutal forces of oppression, refusing submission or defeat despite the aggression it faces." • : Iran denied responsibility for the Houthi attack on Israel. == References ==