Missile from Yemen halts flights in Israel hours before Gaza war vote
On Sunday,a missile fired by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen caused temporarily halted flights and disrupted traffic at Ben-Gurion international Airport in Israel,resulting in a scene of panic among passengers. This incident occurred just hours before a critical vote by Israeli Cabinet ministers on whether to escalate military operations in Gaza. The missile impact,which left a plume of smoke and a crater near the airport,led to air raid sirens ringing in multiple regions and light injuries to four individuals. While some airlines canceled flights in response to the attack, military spokespersons from the Houthis asserted that the missile targeted the airport in solidarity with Palestinians amid ongoing conflicts. Israeli officials reported that air, road, and rail services resumed roughly an hour after the missile strike, and Defense Minister Israel Katz promised severe repercussions for the attack.
A missile from Yemen halts flights in Israel hours before top officials vote on plans for Gaza war
BEN-GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Israel (AP) — A missile launched by Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen on Sunday briefly halted flights and commuter traffic at Israel’s main international airport after an impact left a plume of smoke and caused panic among passengers.
The Houthi rebels have been striking Israel throughout the war in Gaza in solidarity with Palestinians. The attack on Ben-Gurion International Airport came hours before top Israeli Cabinet ministers were set to vote on whether to intensify the country’s military operations in the Gaza Strip. The army meanwhile began calling up thousands of reserves in anticipation of a wider operation in Gaza, officials said.
TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
The missile launch Sunday set off air raid sirens in multiple parts of Israel. A plume of smoke was visible at the airport, according to footage shared by Israeli media. Passengers were heard yelling and scrambling for cover.
It was not immediately clear whether the projectile, which landed in a field near an access road leading to airport parking lots, was the missile or its fragments, or an interceptor from Israel’s air defense systems. It left a deep crater in the ground and a nearby road was littered with dirt.
Police said that air, road and rail traffic were halted following the attack. The traffic resumed after about an hour, Israel Airports Authority said. Israel’s paramedic service Magen David Adom said four people were lightly wounded.
Israeli media said multiple international airlines cancelld flights following the strike. The war with Hamas and then Hezbollah in Lebanon had led a wave of airlines to suspend flights to Israel but they have since returned to pre-war levels.
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a video statement that the group fired a hypersonic ballistic missile at the airport.
Houthi rebels have been firing at Israel since the war with Gaza erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, and the missiles have mostly been intercepted, although some have penetrated Israel’s missile defense systems, causing damage.
HUMANITARIAN SHIP HEADED FOR GAZA PURPORTEDLY ATTACKED BY DRONES
Israel has struck back against the rebels in Yemen and the U.S., Israel’s top ally, also launched a campaign of strikes in March against them.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed retribution for the airport attack: “Whoever harms us, we will harm them sevenfold.”
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Now loading...