A missile launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels landed near Israel’s main international airport on Sunday, briefly shutting down operations at Ben Gurion Airport and raising alarm about the limits of Israeli and US missile defense systems.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the attempted interception of the incoming missile using its Arrow defense system, assisted by a US-deployed THAAD system. However, multiple interception attempts failed, prompting the temporary suspension of air traffic and public transportation in and around the airport.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, calling it retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group used a “hypersonic ballistic missile,” and warned that more strikes on Israeli airports could follow, advising airlines to cancel flights to the country. 
This incident marks the first confirmed missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport by the Houthis and underscores a significant security breach at one of Israel’s most fortified sites. Despite Israel’s robust missile defense systems, which have successfully intercepted numerous threats from Hezbollah and other regional actors, this strike showed what experts are calling “tremendous accuracy” from over 2,000 kilometers away.
Military analyst Amir Bar Shalom highlighted the concerning nature of the missile’s precision and warned of a potentially new class of threat, possibly involving advanced Iranian missile technology. The IDF noted that the failure was due to a “technical issue” with the interceptor rather than a broader system failure.
The incident prompted Israel’s security cabinet to convene and plan a response. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed retaliatory actions, stating Israel would respond to both the Houthis and their Iranian backers. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of a “sevenfold” response, while Iran’s defense leadership threatened to target US bases in the region if Iran is attacked.
Airlines including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv until at least May 6 in response to the threat.
The Houthis have increased the frequency of missile and drone attacks on Israel in recent months, as part of their stated support for Palestinians. Though the US has spent nearly $1 billion on recent military operations to degrade the Houthis’ capabilities, including strikes on missile sites and infrastructure, the group continues to launch attacks with increasing range and precision.
Sunday’s strike is part of a broader pattern of escalating regional threats that now appear capable of evading some of the most advanced air defense systems in the world.
