Houthis announce aerial blockade on Israel, targeting airports

Yemen's Houthi movement (Ansarallah) announced a 'comprehensive aerial blockade' on Israel, vowing to repeatedly target Israeli airports—primarily Ben Gurion Airport—in response to Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza. The group's spokesperson called on all international airlines to cancel flights to Israel to safeguard their aircraft and passengers. Recent missile strikes from Yemen reportedly bypassed Israel's missile defense systems, causing disruptions and injuries at Ben Gurion Airport, though flights have since resumed. Ansarallah also condemned Israeli strikes in other Arab countries, asserting Yemen's refusal to accept attacks on regional neighbors. While the Houthis claim ongoing attacks will continue, analysts note that Israel's air defense systems are expected to prevent most missiles from reaching their targets, making the effectiveness of a full blockade unlikely.