Houthis Declare "Air Siege" on Israel After Missile Attack on Israeli Airport

The Iran-aligned rebels in Yemen declared on Sunday night that they would establish an all-encompassing aerial blockade against Israel. They stated this move was retaliation for the Israeli administration’s choice to broaden its military operations against Hamas in Gaza.

In an announcement relayed through their media channels, Houthi spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree urged international carriers to heed the warning in order to “ensure the well-being of their passengers,” adding that this directive was implemented right away.

Sareeti stated, "We will enforce the blockade by continuously attacking Israeli airports, with a particular focus on Ben Gurion International Airport close to Tel Aviv."

The statement came after the group fired missiles at Israel’s principal international airport, with one hitting close to an entranceway, leading to widespread fear amongst travelers.

The assault on Ben-Gurion International Airport occurred just hours prior to when Israeli cabinet members were scheduled to decide if they should escalate military actions in Gaza. According to Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, the nation’s Chief of General Staff, the armed forces were mobilizing tens of thousands of reserve troops.

The Israeli army stated this was the first occasion a missile hit the airport premises since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict. According to military reports, preliminary evidence suggested that the probable reason behind it was a technical malfunction involving the interceptor system.

Israel's emergency medical service, Magen David Adom, reported that four individuals sustained slight injuries.

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Several global air carriers have either canceled or delayed their flights. The ongoing warfare between Israel and Hamas in Gaza alongside the tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon resulted in numerous airlines halting operations to Israel. Many of these services had only recently been reinstated.

Israel has pledged to retaliate against the Houthi attack seven times over.

Since the onset of Israel's conflict with Hamas on October 7, 2023, Houthi rebels have launched attacks targeting Israel. While most of these projectiles have been thwarted by Israel’s missile defense systems, several have managed to breach them, resulting in damages.

Israel has retaliated against the insurgents in Yemen.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the U.S. was backing Israel’s actions against the Houthis.

It won’t just be about one quick shot and it’s over; however, explosions are expected," he stated. He further commented in a subsequent release that Israel plans to retaliate against the Houthis "and, when and where we decide, also confront their Iranian sponsors involved in terrorism.