2025 Houthi attack on Tel Aviv airport

2025 Houthi attack on Tel Aviv airport
Part of the Red Sea crisis and the Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)
Type	Ballistic missile attack
Location	Tel Aviv, Israel
Target	Ben Gurion Airport
Date	4 May 2025 c. 9:30 a.m. IST (UTC+3)
Executed by	Houthi movement
Outcome	Temporary suspension of flights towards Ben Gurion Airport [1] Beginning of the May 2025 Israeli attacks on Yemen
Casualties	8 injured

On 4 May 2025, the Houthi movement in Yemen fired a ballistic missile at Tel Aviv, Israel, hitting the perimeter of the main terminal of Ben Gurion Airport while leaving a crater and damaging a road and a vehicle. The Israeli defense system failed to shoot down the missile, despite several attempts to intercept it. As a result, eight people were injured—two of whom were injured on their way to a shelter. The attack caused air traffic to stop and several major airlines to cancel their flights for a few days. ^{[2] [3] [4]} The Israel Airports Authority said the attack was the first time a missile landed so close to Israel's main airport. ^[5]

Background

Main articles: Red Sea crisis and United States attacks in Yemen (March 2025–present)

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 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. ^{[6] [7]}

Attack

In the morning of 4 May, at around 9:30 a.m. IST, ^[8] a Houthi hypersonic ballistic missile—which the Houthis claim to have stealth technology, a range of 2,150 kilometres (1,340 mi), and a speed sixteen times the speed of sound ^[4] —was launched at Tel Aviv. Despite several Israeli attempts to intercept it using the advanced U.S.-made THAAD system and its Arrow defense system, it ultimately failed to shoot down the missile. The missile landed near the main terminal of Ben Gurion Airport, leaving a huge crater while damaging a road and a vehicle. ^[9] 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. ^[3] 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. ^[1]

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. ^[2]

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." ^[4]

Aftermath

Main article: May 2025 Israeli attacks on Yemen

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. ^[10] According to an Israeli security source: "We destroyed Hodeidah port and concrete factories that were used for manufacturing weapons." ^{[11] [12] [13]} The following day, Israel bombed Sanaa International Airport, effectively disabling it. ^[14]

Reactions

• Houthi movement: 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. ^{[3] [4]} Senior Houthi leader Muhammad al-Bahithi claimed that the hypersonic missile attack at the airport was "proof of our ability to strike fortified sites in Israel." ^[9] Later, the Houthis said they will impose "a comprehensive aerial blockade" on Israel by repeatedly targeting its airports. ^[3]
• Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to respond to the strike "at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters" and that "The US, in coordination with us, is also operating against them." ^[4] Defense Minister Israel Katz also threatened "Whoever attacks us, we will hit back sevenfold," apparently referencing the Torah. ^[2] Israel initiated airstrikes on Yemen the following day. ^[11]
• United States: Following the attack, U.S. National Security Council James Hewitt said that the U.S. military will continue its attacks on the Houthis and that "the Trump administration remains committed to ending the Houthis' capabilities to hijack freedom of navigation in the Red Sea." ^[15] On the same day, U.S. forces struck an area south of Sanaa with three air attacks. ^[16] Despite this, the U.S. reached a ceasefire deal with the Houthis on 6 May. ^[17]
• Hamas: 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." ^[4]
• Southern Transitional Council: Summer Ahmed, the representative of the Yemeni STC to the United Nations, called the attack a "blatant act of terrorism," which is "part of a broader pattern of Houthi aggression." ^[18]
• Iran: Iran denied responsibility for the Houthi attack on Israel. ^[17] In response to threats to hold Iran responsible for the actions of the Houthis, Iranian defense minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that Iran will target the bases, interests, and forces of the United States and Israel if attacked. ^[1] Iranian media lauded the Houthi missile strike as a major victory. ^[19]

References

1. "Netanyahu vows to retaliate against Houthis and Iran after missile attack". Sky News. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
2. "Israel's Netanyahu vows response to Iran after Houthi attack on airport". Al Jazeera . Retrieved 4 May 2025.
3. "Netanyahu vows response after Houthi missile hits near Israel's main airport". BBC . 4 May 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
4. Michaelis, Tamar; Liebermann, Oren (4 May 2025). "Israel fails to intercept Houthi missile targeting its main airport, showing the limits of US efforts to weaken the group". CNN . Retrieved 4 May 2025.
5. Burke, Jason (4 May 2025). "Netanyahu vows to act against Houthis after attack on Israel's main airport". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 4 May 2025.
6. Schmitt, Eric; Wong, Edward; Ismay, John (4 April 2025). "U.S. Strikes in Yemen Burning Through Munitions With Limited Success". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 5 April 2025.
7. "Trump launches large-scale strikes against Yemen's Houthis". Reuters. 15 March 2025.
8. Jovanovic, Dragana; Miller, Jordana (4 May 2025). "Israel PM says Houthis threaten the 'whole world' after strike near Tel Aviv airport". ABC News . Archived from the original on 4 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
9. Confino, Jotam (4 May 2025). "Houthi 'hypersonic' missile hits Israel's main airport". The Telegraph . ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 4 May 2025.
10. "Israeli airstrikes rock Yemen after Tel Aviv airport attack". Al Jazeera. 5 April 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
11. Boxerman, Aaron; Almosawa, Shuaib (5 May 2025). "Israel Bombs Yemeni Port City After Houthi Missile Struck Near Tel Aviv Airport". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 6 May 2025.
12. "גורם ביטחוני על התקיפות בתימן: "השמדנו את נמל חודיידה ומפעלי בטון"" [Security source on the attacks in Yemen: "We destroyed the port of Hodeidah and concrete factories"]. JDN (in Hebrew). Retrieved 5 May 2025.
13. "مسؤول إسرائيلي: دمّرنا ميناء الحديدة بالكامل بـ48 قنبلة" [Israeli official: We completely destroyed the port of Hodeidah with 48 bombs.]. AlHadath (in Arabic). 5 May 2025. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
14. Boxerman, Aaron; Nereim, Vivian (6 May 2025). "Israel Bombs Yemen's Main Airport in Retaliation for Houthi Strike". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 6 May 2025.
15. Uras, Umut; Jamal, Urooba (4 May 2025). "Israel accused of mass starvation in Gaza as 'method of war'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
16. Uras, Umut; Jamal, Urooba (4 May 2025). "Israel accused of mass starvation in Gaza as 'method of war'". Al Jazeera . Retrieved 4 May 2025.
17. "Yemen: Is the US-Houthi deal the end of Red Sea attacks?". dw.com. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
18. Merlin, Ohad (4 May 2025). "Southern Yemeni diplomat denounces Houthi targeting of Ben-Gurion Airport - interview". The Jerusalem Post . Retrieved 5 May 2025.
19. "Iran hails Houthi missile strike on Ben-Gurion Airport as major victory, expert says". The Jerusalem Post . 8 May 2025. ISSN   0792-822X . Retrieved 9 May 2025.