Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on Monday night, following a ballistic missile attack that successfully struck Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday.
The attack marked the first time the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have hit Israel’s main airport, escalating an already volatile regional conflict.
An Israeli security source confirmed the strikes, which are the first in months against Houthi positions.
The strikes came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to respond “at a time and place of our choosing.” Addressing the nation, Netanyahu said, “We acted before, we will act in the future too… It’s not ‘one and done.’”
The Sunday missile strike, which evaded multiple Israeli interception attempts, has intensified concerns about the Houthis’ reach and capabilities.
In a statement, the rebel group warned of a “comprehensive air blockade” on Israel, threatening continued strikes on airports, particularly Ben Gurion, and urging international airlines to cancel flights.
The Israeli Security Cabinet convened urgently after the airport attack. Netanyahu, speaking with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, blamed Iran for backing the Houthis and pledged “very strong action” in response.
While both Israel and the United States have conducted strikes against Houthi infrastructure in recent months—including power plants and maritime facilities—the group has continued to fire ballistic missiles toward Israel and U.S. naval forces in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb.
