Air traffic to Israel is again under tension after a missile drawn from Yemen has briefly interrupted activity at Ben Gurion airport. The Houthi rebels announce that they want to target Israeli airports and call for companies to suspend their flights.
In two words:
- Houthi rebels threaten to block Israeli airspace by targeting airports, in reaction to military climbing in Gaza.
- Several airlines, including Lufthansa and Air France, have suspended their flights to Tel Aviv as a precaution.
- Israel promises massive reprisals, targeting Houthis but also Iran, and recalls thousands of reservists.
The Yemen Houthi rebels announced on Sunday their intention to aim for the Israeli airport infrastructure, in particular Ben Gourion airport, located near Tel Aviv. In a statement, their military spokesperson Yahya Saree said that this threat was a response to “The (Israeli) decision to extend its aggressive operations to Gaza”.
“In response to Israeli escalation and the decision to extend its aggressive operations to Gaza, the Yemeni armed forces announce that they will impose a total air blockade over the Israeli enemy by repeatedly targeting airports, including LOD airport, known to Israelis under the name of Ben Gurion” airport “he said.
First flight suspensions to Israel
Even before this official declaration of the Houthis, several airlines had already taken precautionary measures. Lufthansa and Air India suspended their connections with Tel Aviv until May 6, while British Airways postponed its flights until May 7. Air France, for its part, canceled its flights for Sunday.
Houthis now call “All international airlines to (…) cancel their flights to criminal enemy airports to ensure the safety of their devices and passengers.”
Support for Gaza
Since the start of the war in the Gaza Strip, triggered by the attack on Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, the Houthis – allies of Iran and members of what they call “the resistance axis” – have multiplied military actions in support of the Palestinians. After a temporary truce, they resumed in mid-March their missile shots against Israel as well as their attacks against ships in the Red Sea.
Yemen will not accept continuous violations that the enemy seeks to impose
“Free, proud and independent Yemen will not accept continuous violations that the enemy seeks to impose by targeting Arab countries such as Lebanon and Syria”Also said Yahya Saree.
Israel promises reprisals
In response to this new attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced reprisals against the Houthis and Iran. “We acted against (the Houthis) in the past and we will act in the future. (…) It will not happen in a single boom but there will be a lot of boys”he said.
A few hours after the missile shooting towards Ben Gurion, the Israeli army also confirmed the recall of several tens of thousands of reservists, in anticipation of an intensification of the offensive against Hamas in Gaza. Yemen attacks against Israel Houtis attack on international political missiles support for Gaza
