Houthi Missile Claim Heightens Israel Tensions

According to the reports on Friday (27 December), Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed to have fired a missile at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, prompting a temporary halt to arrivals at the airport. Israel’s military confirmed intercepting one missile from Yemen but did not comment on the other attacks, including drones targeting Tel Aviv and a ship in the Arabian Sea, as claimed by the Houthis. The rebels stated that Israeli actions strengthen their resolve to support the Palestinian cause.

The missile launch came a day after Israeli airstrikes targeted Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, including Sanaa’s international airport, killing six people and wounding around 30 travelers and staff. The attack injured a crew member of a plane belonging to the World Health Organization, whose chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was present at the airport. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the strikes as “especially alarming.”

Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) stated that its airstrikes targeted military infrastructure linked to the Houthi regime. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to continue countering the Houthis, referring to them as part of the “Iranian axis of evil.” He warned that Israel was only beginning its campaign against the rebel group.

The escalation underscores growing tensions in the region, with the Houthis accusing Israel of aggression and retaliating with missile and drone strikes. The situation has drawn international attention, particularly given the involvement of the UN and WHO officials during the airstrike on Sanaa’s airport, signaling the broader implications of the conflict.

References

• Houthi Missile Attack on Israel Escalates Middle East Tensions