Houthis fire missile near Tel Aviv airport; Netanyahu says Iran-backed group poses global threat

On May 4, 2025, a hypersonic ballistic missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck near Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, injuring at least eight people and causing major disruptions to international air travel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the attack a threat “to the whole world,” attributing the strike to Iranian-backed efforts to destabilise the region. The missile evaded both Israeli and American air defence systems and marks a significant escalation in cross-regional hostilities.

What Happened at Ben Gurion Airport?

According to Israeli defence officials speaking on background to national media outlets, the missile landed near Terminal 3 of Ben Gurion Airport late on Sunday, May 4. The impact left a crater several metres wide and injured at least eight individuals in the vicinity, with two in critical condition. No casualties have been reported so far. Emergency crews were deployed immediately, and flight operations were halted temporarily.

Airlines including Lufthansa, Delta Air Lines, and Air France have suspended inbound and outbound services to Tel Aviv until further notice. Israeli aviation authorities stated that runway inspections and security evaluations are underway.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the projectile was a hypersonic ballistic missile, travelling at speeds exceeding Mach 5, which significantly limited interception response time.

How Did Israel Respond?

Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a late-night televised address from Tel Aviv, described the attack as an unprecedented escalation that could affect global civil aviation. He asserted that Iran had directed the Houthis to strike Israeli infrastructure, warning that retaliation was imminent. Without naming a specific timeline, he said Israel would “respond at a time and place of our choosing.”

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also condemned the attack and stated through the official defence ministry channel that the missile launch was a “strategic threat from Yemen under Iranian command.” He said that military options were under review, including potential airstrikes on Houthi military installations in northern Yemen.

Netanyahu stressed that the Houthis were no longer merely a regional threat, but a globally destabilising force backed by Tehran. “This is not just Israel’s problem anymore. The threat is aimed at the entire world,” he said during a press briefing attended by foreign correspondents.

Why Did the Houthis Attack?

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree issued a public statement via official channels claiming responsibility for the missile strike. He stated that the operation was launched “in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” referencing Israel’s ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip.

The group warned that Israeli airspace was no longer secure, vowing to continue targeting critical civilian and military sites within Israeli territory. This follows previous drone and missile threats from the group targeting the southern port city of Eilat and Red Sea shipping lanes.

The Houthi statement said the Tel Aviv strike was intended to show that “Israeli crimes in Gaza will be met with action, not words.” It did not mention coordination with Iran, though Israeli officials reiterated that Tehran remains the principal backer of the rebel militia through training, technology, and intelligence support.

What Is the Strategic Significance of the Missile?

This missile strike has brought new urgency to concerns about the reach and precision of Houthi long-range weapons. Israeli and U.S. defence analysts said the projectile evaded both Iron Dome and David’s Sling systems, raising alarms over potential vulnerabilities in regional missile defence infrastructure.

Hypersonic ballistic missiles, capable of travelling at ultra-high speeds and manoeuvring mid-flight, are particularly challenging to intercept. Military experts cited by Israel’s Channel 12 said the missile likely originated from western Yemen and was launched from a mobile platform that had not been previously detected.

This development suggests a new phase in Houthi military capability, as well as increasing regional risks involving non-state actors with advanced Iranian-made weaponry.

Is There a Broader Regional Implication?

The incident comes amid rising regional volatility. Israel has continued its military operation in Gaza for nearly seven months, while tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iranian proxies in Syria have also intensified. The latest missile strike marks the first known instance of a hypersonic missile reaching central Israel from outside the immediate region.

U.S. CENTCOM has not confirmed whether American assets attempted to intercept the projectile, but defence sources said coordination with Israeli systems is “ongoing and under review.”

Earlier this year, the Houthis targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea, prompting U.S.-led retaliatory strikes and designations of the group as a terrorist organisation. Sunday’s attack is being viewed by analysts as a major test of Israel’s deterrence capacity against Iranian-affiliated forces operating from afar.

What Are Authorities Saying About Future Security?

Ben Gurion Airport’s management stated on Monday morning that domestic and international flights had resumed under “enhanced threat posture.” Additional Iron Dome batteries have been repositioned to central Israel, and security personnel have been deployed around critical transportation and utility infrastructure.

The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) said in a press release that passengers should expect significant delays over the next 72 hours and monitor airline updates closely. They confirmed that structural integrity checks on Terminals 1 and 3 are ongoing.

Aviation experts noted that even a near-miss event at a civilian airport can drastically alter global carrier operations, especially if airlines determine that regional airspace no longer meets risk standards for commercial flights.

Is There International Reaction to the Attack?

International response has begun to build. The United States Department of State issued a condemnation of the attack, calling it a “reckless escalation” and a threat to civilian aviation. French and German foreign ministries echoed similar sentiments, while reaffirming their support for Israel’s right to self-defence.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Security Council has scheduled an emergency session for Tuesday, following Israel’s formal request to discuss the threat posed by the Houthis’ ballistic missile capabilities. An emergency meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is also being planned to address the aviation security fallout.

How Has the Public Reacted?

Public sentiment in Israel is reportedly tense but resilient. Local television broadcasts showed passengers being escorted out of the airport’s terminals during the explosion aftermath, with several eyewitnesses describing the sound as “like an earthquake.”

In Tel Aviv and surrounding suburbs, police and security forces are maintaining a heightened alert status, with additional security barriers deployed at other major public facilities, including rail stations and schools.

What Happens Next?

While no retaliatory action has been officially announced yet, Israeli military movements toward the Red Sea and reported overflights near Yemeni airspace indicate that a response is under planning. Military commentators on Israeli media channels speculated that precision strikes on missile launch sites and Houthi command centres may be imminent, though no official confirmation has been provided.

The attack adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and intensifies concerns over a widening theatre of conflict involving Iran-backed militias stretching from Gaza to Lebanon to Yemen.

Israel’s policy shift may now involve greater coordination with Western powers to neutralise Houthi launch platforms and expand air defence systems capable of intercepting hypersonic threats.