Missile from Yemen halts flights in Israel before vote on intensifying Gaza war
Israel’s prime minister vowed a response to Yemen’s Houthis and their Iranian backers for attack on Ben Gurion International Airport
A missile launched by Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen briefly halted flights and commuter traffic at Israel’s main international airport on Sunday after its impact near an access road caused panic among passengers.
The attack on Ben Gurion International Airport came hours before Israeli Cabinet ministers were set to vote on whether to intensify military operations in Gaza. The army was calling up tens of thousands of reserves, Israel’s chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said.
Israel’s army said it was the first time a missile struck the airport grounds since the war in Gaza began. The military said initial findings indicated the likely cause was a technical issue with the interceptor.
The Houthis have targeted Israel throughout the war in solidarity with Palestinians. Israel’s paramedic service Magen David Adom said four people were lightly wounded.
Multiple international airlines cancelled or postponed flights. The war with Hamas in Gaza and then Hezbollah in Lebanon had led a wave of airlines to suspend flights to Israel. Many had resumed in recent months.