Houthis Show Defiance With New Missile And Drone Attack On Israel

Illustrative image. (Israeli Defense Forces)

The Houthis (Ansar Allah) on May 9 launched a new attack against Israel, showing defiance despite recent strikes on Yemen.

The group launched a “hypersonic ballistic missile” at Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel and a “Yafa” suicide drone at a “vital target” in the nearby city of Tel Aviv, military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a statement, noting that the attack was carried out In support of “the oppressed Palestinian people and their fighters” in the Gaza Strip and “within the implementation of the no-fly zone over the criminal Israeli enemy entity.”

“The Armed Forces reiterates its warning to companies that have not yet complied with the ban ordering them to immediately halt their flights to occupied Palestine, as other companies have done,” the spokesman said.

“The ban on air navigation to airports in occupied Palestine, as well as the ban on the passage of Israeli ships through the Red and Arabian Seas, in addition to support operations, will remain in effect until the aggression on Gaza stops and the blockade is lifted,” he added.

The attack triggered sirens across central Israel. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted by its air defense.

An Israeli security source later told The Times of Israel that the missile was intercepted by Israel’s Arrow long-range air defense system. The United States Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system deployed to Israel also engaged the missile but missed, for the second time this week, the source said.

Commenting on the attack, Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would respond “strongly” against the Houthis in Yemen.

“The Houthis continue to launch Iranian missiles at Israel. As we promised, we will respond strongly in Yemen and anywhere else necessary,” the minister said in a statement.

A missile launched by the Houthis hit Ben Guiron on May 4, wounding six people and forcing several airlines to suspend flights to Israel. The Houthis later said that they would impose a “comprehensive air blockade” on the country until the war on Gaza is over.

The IDF launched two waves of strikes against Yemen in response to the missile attack, targeting the western province of al-Hodeidah and the capital Sanaa on May 5 and 6 respectively. Four people were killed in the first wave of strikes, while the second placed Sanaa International Airport out of service.

Amid the exchange of fire, the U.S. shocked Israel by announcing that it will be ending a large-scale operation it launched against the Houthis in mid-March.

Israel was left alone to face the Houthis, some 2,000 kilometers away from its border. The IDF will likely launch more strikes against Yemen. However, it is highly unlikely that the group will be deterred.

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