On Could 4, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning of a number of retaliatory strikes in opposition to Yemen’s Houthi rebels following a ballistic missile assault close to Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s foremost worldwide airport. The missile, launched by the Iran-backed Houthis, landed 75 meters from Terminal 3, making a 25-meter deep crater and injuring eight individuals, with 4 damage by the blast and two whereas in search of shelter. The Houthis claimed the assault, stating the airport was “not secure for air journey” and citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Netanyahu emphasised that Israel’s response wouldn’t be a “one-and-done” motion, promising sustained strikes. In a video posted on X, he acknowledged, “We now have acted in opposition to them prior to now, and we are going to act sooner or later,” highlighting coordination with the U.S., which has additionally performed strikes in opposition to the Houthis. Posts on X echoed this, with customers noting Netanyahu’s vow for “many hits” relatively than a single retaliation.
The missile bypassed Israel’s superior air defenses, together with the U.S.-made THAAD and indigenous Arrow programs, prompting an IDF investigation into the failure. This incident adopted a sample of Houthi assaults, together with a September 2024 missile strike on central Israel and a December 2024 assault injuring 16 in Tel Aviv. Israel has beforehand struck Houthi targets, comparable to ports and vitality infrastructure in Hodeidah and Sana’a, aiming to disrupt their navy capabilities and Iranian weapon smuggling.
Protection Minister Israel Katz bolstered the risk, stating, “Anybody who hits us, we are going to hit them seven instances stronger.” The Houthis, undeterred, vowed to proceed assaults till Israel’s navy operations in Gaza stop, escalating tensions amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Yemen.
If you’d like extra particulars on particular strikes, Houthi motivations, or the broader regional context, let me know!
