A missile launched by Yemen’s Houthis movement struck an area near Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel on Sunday morning, after Israeli air defences failed to intercept it.

According to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), several attempts were made to intercept the ballistic missile, but these were unsuccessful. As a result, the missile impacted the vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport. The IDF has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the interception failure.

Israel’s emergency services reported that six people were injured in the incident. A 50-year-old man sustained relatively serious injuries to his limbs, while two women, aged 54 and 38, suffered minor injuries caused by the shock wave.

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A 64-year-old man also sustained light injuries from debris thrown by the explosion, and two more women, aged 22 and 34, were hurt while running to a nearby shelter. Emergency responders provided assistance to two additional individuals suffering from shock. All injured persons were transported to hospitals in central Israel for treatment.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile strike. The group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, issued in a televised statement warning airlines that Ben Gurion Airport was “no longer safe” for air travel.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency phone meeting with top government officials to discuss potential retaliatory measures. A meeting of the security cabinet was also called to address the Houthi attack, ongoing military operations in Gaza, and Israeli security concerns in Syria.

In addition, Netanyahu has called a meeting of the security cabinet, where the Houthi offensive will also be discussed, as well as the expansion of Israeli operations in Gaza, as well as the conflicts in Syria.  

Footage from airport security cameras captured the moment of impact. The missile reportedly struck a tree near a runway within the airport’s perimeter.

Footage shows the moment of the Houthis ballistic missile impact in the area of Ben Gurion Airport this morning.

The Israel Airports Authority confirmed that all flights to and from Ben Gurion were temporarily suspended. An investigation was launched to examine debris found in the airport area. While there was no significant damage within the airfield itself, it was confirmed that the access road to Terminal 3 sustained damage.

Flights resumed shortly afterwards, following a one-hour suspension.

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