Alarm Sounded in the Dead Sea and Negev Regions Following a Missile Launch from Yemen
In a series of escalating events, Yemen's Houthi rebels have targeted Israel with missile and drone attacks, causing concern and disruption across the region.
**July 2025: Major Escalation**
On July 16–17, 2025, the Houthis claimed a missile and drone attack targeting Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel's main civilian airport, and the southern port city of Eilat. The Israeli military confirmed intercepting a missile launched from Yemen, with sirens sounding in several areas of Israel. The Houthis stated that this attack utilized a "Zulfiqar ballistic missile" and announced simultaneous drone attacks on military targets.
These incidents followed Israel's earlier airstrikes on Yemeni port facilities held by the Houthis after a Houthi-linked attack on a commercial ship in the Red Sea. The Houthis have resumed their campaign against shipping and renewed missile and drone attacks on Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
**Late 2024: Key Developments**
In December 2024, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile toward Israel, which was partially intercepted by Israel’s Arrow defense system. The warhead detonated over Ramat Gan, causing damage to cars and infrastructure. The Houthis claimed to have struck military sites in the Tel Aviv area using hypersonic ballistic missiles; the next day, a suspected Houthi UAV was intercepted near the Tel Aviv coast. The Houthis later claimed two successful UAV attacks on Israel in cooperation with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, targeting southern and central Israel.
Following the December missile attack, Israel launched two waves of airstrikes on Yemen, targeting Hudaydah Port, Salif Port, Ras Isa oil terminal, and fuel depots near Sanaa, stating these strikes disabled military sites and ports used by the Houthis. The attacks reportedly killed at least nine civilians and injured others.
**Broader Pattern and Affected Regions**
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion International Airport, as well as the southern port city of Eilat, using both missiles and drones. Israeli air defenses have intercepted several of these projectiles, but some have caused property damage and disruption in central and southern Israel.
The Houthi campaign has also included attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including vessels with perceived links to Israel, as part of their strategy to pressure Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
These incidents have drawn in U.S. and Western forces, with heightened tensions surrounding the Gaza war and broader regional conflicts.
**Summary Table**
| Date | Houthi Launch Target (Israel) | Outcome/Impact | Israeli Response | |---------------------|-----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------| | July 16–17, 2025 | Ben Gurion Airport, Eilat, military sites | Missile intercepted; drones claimed on Eilat/military | Ongoing airstrikes on Yemen[3][4] | | December 18–20, 2024| Tel Aviv area, central/southern Israel | Partial interception, Ramat Gan damage; UAVs intercepted | Major airstrikes on Yemeni ports/depots[1] |
**Key Takeaways**
- **Most Recent Attack (July 2025):** The Houthis targeted Ben Gurion International Airport with a ballistic missile and drones, with the missile intercepted by Israeli defenses[3][4]. - **Previous Major Incident (December 2024):** A Houthi ballistic missile caused damage in Ramat Gan after partial interception by Israeli air defenses, followed by additional UAV and missile attacks on Tel Aviv and southern Israel[1]. - **Consistent Pattern:** The Houthis have escalated missile and drone attacks on Israel since October 2023, citing solidarity with Palestinians, with primary Israeli targets in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and the southern port city of Eilat[1][3][4]. - **Impacted Regions:** Central Israel (Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Ben Gurion Airport) and southern Israel (Eilat) have been directly affected, with varying degrees of interception and property damage reported[1][3][4]. - **Regional Escalation:** The conflict has expanded to include attacks on Red Sea shipping and drawn in international military responses[2][3].
- During the escalating events in July 2025, the Houthis' missile and drone attacks on Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv and the southern port city of Eilat were a significant part of the broader political news and general news coverage.
- In the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the region, the Houthis' renewed missile and drone attacks on Israel, in response to Israeli airstrikes on Yemeni port facilities, have highlighted the role of politics in influencing military actions and tactics.
