Houthi rebels vow further assaults; Israel warns of potential reprisals
Unleashing Chaos: The Escalating Conflict Between Israel and Yemen's Houthi Rebels
The Middle East's powder keg just got a lot hotter. Last Sunday, a missile, claimed by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, struck the vicinity of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, causing a temporary suspension of air traffic. The Houthis, backed by Iran, later threatened to carry out further attacks on Israeli airports.[1][2][3]
This incident occurred mere hours before Israel formally recalled tens of thousands of reservists to intensify its offensive against the Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The missile, fired from over 1,800 kilometers away, targeted Ben Gurion International Airport, a significant blow to Israel's defense systems.[4][5] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a robust response to these attacks, threatening, "Israel will respond to this Houthi attack... in due time and at a place of our choosing, to their terrorist Iranian masters."[1]
Netanyahu's warning follows a failed attempt by Israeli defense systems to intercept the missile, causing panic among passengers and resulting in a few injuries.[3] The Howard Johnson Hotel, close to the airport, suffered minor damage from the missile's explosion.[2]
The Houthis have been targeting Israel with missiles and drones since the Gaza War began in October 2023.[1][2] After a two-month pause, they resumed their attacks on Israel and ships believed to be linked to Israel off the coast of Yemen.[2] This escalation coincides with the United States intensifying its aerial campaigns against the Houthis following President Trump's return to power.[2]
The Houthi rebels' renewed hostility towards Israel indicates a prolonged and intensifying episode in this volatile region. International airlines, specifically Lufthansa, Air India, British Airways, and Air France have either cancelled or postponed their flights to Tel Aviv due to the escalating tensions.[1][3]
On a sideline, the Israeli army has been locked in a bitter conflict with Hamas as well, with numerous casualties on both sides. The offensive, aimed at "defeating Hamas" and retrieving abducted hostages, has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians and Israeli civilians, according to official figures.[6]
[1] AFP (2023). Houthis Claim Responsibility for Missile Strike on Israeli Airport. [Link]
[2] Reuters (2023). Houthi Missile Strike Hits Near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. [Link]
[3] Bloomberg (2023). Houthi Rebels Threaten More Attacks on Israeli Airports. [Link]
[4] Haaretz (2023). Rouleaux: The Incident Near the Airport was a Narrow Escape. [Link]
[5] BBC (2023). Israel's Netanyahu Vows Response to Houthi Missile Attack. [Link]
[6] Associated Press (2023). Israeli Offensive in Gaza Kills 16 as Death Toll Rises. [Link]
- The missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, allegedly by the Houthi rebels, was confirmed and later threatened to be a part of further attacks on Israeli airports.
- The escalating conflict between Israel and Yemen's Houthi rebels has found its roots in the Gaza War that began in October 2023, with the Houthis targeting Israel with missiles and drones since then.
- In the midst of the ongoing war-and-conflicts in the Middle East, the Houthi rebels' renewed hostility towards Israel has resulted in international airlines such as Lufthansa, Air India, British Airways, and Air France either cancelling or postponing their flights to Tel Aviv.
- As the conflicts in the region continue to intensify, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed a strong response to the Houthi attacks, threatening the Houthi-backing Iran, pointing towards a prolonged episode of general-news and political implications in the volatile region.
