Israel suspends flights at Tel Aviv airport after missile launch from Yemen detected
‘Following the alerts that were activated a short while ago in several areas within the country, one missile launched from Yemen was intercepted,’ says Israeli army
JERUSALEM/ISTANBUL
Air traffic at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv was suspended late Thursday after the Israeli army detected a missile launch from Yemen, later announcing that it was intercepted, Israel’s Channel 12 reported.
"Following the alerts that were activated a short while ago in several areas within the country, one missile launched from Yemen was intercepted,” the army said in a brief statement.
The missile launch also led to the suspension of the State Cup football final at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, where Israeli President Isaac Herzog was evacuated to a safe location, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper.
The Houthi group claimed responsibility for the ballistic hypersonic missile attack on the airport, marking its first response to Israel’s latest bombing of Sanaa International Airport.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a press release that "the missile force carried out a military operation targeting Lod Airport (Ben Gurion) with a ballistic hypersonic missile."
Saree confirmed that the operation “successfully achieved its objective,” forcing millions of Israelis to “flee to shelters and causing a halt in airport operations.”
Israel has destroyed eight civilian aircraft since the beginning of its aggression against Yemen in July 2024, the group said earlier.
The statement came during a press conference in Sanaa held by Khaled Al-Shaif, the director of Sanaa International Airport, which is under the control of the Houthis, according to the Houthi-run Saba news agency.
He noted that “the number of Yemeni (Muslim) pilgrims who departed through Sanaa Airport en route to Saudi Arabia reached 1,200, while around 800 others were waiting to travel but were prevented due to this criminal targeting.”
The Houthis have intensified missile and drone strikes on Israel since Tel Aviv resumed military attacks on Gaza in March.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have also targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 54,000 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive.
