Houthi rebels assert accountability for assault on Tel Aviv's aerial terminal.
In Recents Events: A Looming Threat from Yemen
In an unexpected turn of events, a missile has been fired from Yemen and intercepted, as announced by Israel's army. As you may guess, this isn't the first time such an incident has occurred in the past few days.
The Houthi rebels, who control a significant chunk of Yemen, have taken responsibility for the attack, claiming to have targeted Tel Aviv airport using a hypersonic ballistic missile. Yet, Yahya Sarea, the military spokesman for the Houthis, can't seem to back up this claim with any substantial evidence.
It's important to note that this isn't the Houthis' first attack on Israeli soil. On May 4, they managed to hit the perimeter of Ben-Gurion International Airport, an event that led most foreign airlines serving Tel Aviv to temporarily suspend their flights. In response, the Israeli army launched attacks against Houthi targets in Yemen, disrupting Sanaa airport and causing damage to power plants and cement factories.
The Houthis are part of a group, often referred to as the "resistance axis," led by Iran. This alliance includes other radical groups in the region such as Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihad. As a consequence of the previous Houthi attack, Israel threatened potential attacks against the ports of Ras Issa, Hodeida, and Salif in Yemen.
In a social media post, Avichay Adraee, spokesman for the Israeli Army, asked individuals in these ports to evacuate due to the use of maritime ports by the Houthi terrorist regime for terrorist activities. The Houthis continue to claim these attacks against Israel are in retaliation for the aggression against the Gaza Strip and as a form of solidarity with the Palestinian Islamic group Hamas.
The international community has been actively trying to bring some semblance of order to the situation. The US, in particular, launched Operation Rough Rider in March, targeting Houthi installations in Yemen to protect shipping and naval vessels. However, this operation was halted on May 6 due to a ceasefire agreement brokered by Oman, despite persistent hostilities between the rebel group and Israel.
The UN envoy for Yemen has expressed concern about the "dangerous escalation" between Israel and the Houthis, as the Israeli army continues retaliatory attacks against the hostile actions of the Yemeni group.
For a clearer understanding of the timeline of these events and their escalation, read the following enrichment:
Enrichment Data:
Summary: Here's a summary of the recent Houthi missile attacks on Israel:
- Pre-January 2025: The Houthis had launched over 40 ballistic missiles and dozens of drones at Israel before a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas led to a temporary halt in attacks.
- January 2025: Following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the Houthis held their fire temporarily.
- March 18, 2025: The IDF resumed its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, prompting the Houthis to resume launching missiles at Israel, firing 34 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones.
- May 4, 2025: A ballistic missile from Yemen hit near Ben Gurion Airport, causing flights to be suspended temporarily and road closures in the area. Several people were injured.
- May 15-16, 2025: The Houthis continued their attacks, and Israel responded with airstrikes on Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen on May 16, targeting infrastructure in response to ongoing missile and drone attacks.
The ongoing politics and war-and-conflicts in Yemen continue to escalate, with the Houthis launching missiles towards Israel, the latest of which intercepted by Israel's army. This recent attack on Israel's Tel Aviv airport is a part of the general news about recurring hostilities between Israel and the Houthis, a group known for their ties with Iran and other radical regional groups like Hamas.
