Houthis Launch Missile Strike Near Tel Aviv Airport, Escalate Aerial Threats

Yemen's Houthi movement has announced a new 'aerial blockade' targeting Israeli airports, claiming to possess advanced weapons to enforce the threat, following a missile strike that temporarily shut down Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv. The missile, described as potentially hypersonic, evaded Israeli air defenses, resulting in minor injuries and damage to airport infrastructure, and prompting several airlines to suspend flights. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, attributing it to Iranian support for the Houthis and warning of strong retaliatory measures. The recent surge in Houthi missile and drone attacks, which have reached nearly every region of Israel, is believed by Israeli officials to be a response to U.S. efforts to disrupt Iranian arms smuggling and degrade Houthi stockpiles. The Houthis have warned international airlines to avoid Israeli airspace, escalating risks to civilian air travel and intensifying regional tensions amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Despite increased U.S. and Israeli countermeasures, the attacks highlight the Houthis' persistent threat and growing missile capabilities.