In a bold escalation, Yemen’s Houthi rebels announced a full air blockade on Israel on Sunday night, claiming it was in retaliation for Israel’s intensified military actions in the Gaza Strip.
The announcement came via a televised message from Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree, who warned international airlines to heed the declaration to avoid putting passengers at risk. He stated the blockade was immediately in effect.
“We will enforce the blockade by persistently targeting Israeli air hubs, especially Lod Airport (Ben Gurion International Airport) near Tel Aviv,” Saree declared. He also criticized Israel’s military influence over neighboring Arab nations, particularly Lebanon and Syria.
The warning followed the Houthis’ missile strike on Ben Gurion International Airport. The missile landed near an access road, triggering panic among travelers but causing limited injuries. Israel’s paramedic organization, Magen David Adom, reported four people sustained minor wounds.
The attack came shortly before Israeli Cabinet ministers were set to vote on expanding operations in Gaza. Israeli military chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir confirmed tens of thousands of reservists were being called up.
According to the Israeli Defense Forces, this marks the first time a Houthi-fired missile has reached airport grounds since the war in Gaza erupted in October 2023. Initial assessments suggest a malfunction in the missile interception system allowed the projectile through.
As a precaution, several international airlines have suspended or delayed flights to and from Israel. Many had only recently resumed operations following previous suspensions linked to the conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a strong response, promising a “sevenfold” retaliation. He emphasized that Israel’s counteractions would extend beyond Yemen and would also target Iranian support networks behind the Houthis.
“This won’t be a one-off response,” Netanyahu said. “There will be more actions, and we’ll strike when and where we choose — including their Iranian terror sponsors.”
Since the start of the Gaza conflict, the Houthis — aligned with Iran — have repeatedly launched attacks on Israel. Most have been intercepted, but several have slipped through, causing limited damage. In response, Israel has conducted retaliatory strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.