This event marks a significant escalation in the Houthis' campaign against Israeli civilian infrastructure. (Image Credits: www.iranintl.com)
A drone launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck the arrivals hall of Israel’s Ramon International Airport near Eilat on Sunday, marking a direct hit on a civilian travel hub and injuring at least one person. The attack, which forced a two-hour suspension of all flights, has been claimed by the Houthis as a "unique, qualitative military operation" and a response to recent Israeli strikes.
Israeli military authorities confirmed that the Houthis launched a volley of drones toward Israel. While most were successfully intercepted by the country's air defense systems outside its airspace, at least one drone managed to breach these defenses.
It struck Ramon Airport's passenger terminal head-on, resulting in a blast that blew out windows and sent smoke plumes skyward. The immediate aftermath led to a complete, if temporary, shutdown of the airport, disrupting travel and underscoring the vulnerability of the site.
The physical damage was contained to the arrivals hall. However, the human cost, while limited, was real. Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency service reported treating a 63-year-old man for light shrapnel wounds. Initial reports also indicated a 52-year-old woman was injured.
Following extensive safety checks and approval from the Israeli Air Force, the airport was reopened for full operations approximately two hours after the attack.
The Houthi leadership was quick to claim responsibility for the strike. The deputy head of the Houthi media office, Nasruddin Amer, sent a harsh warning on social media: "For their own protection, foreigners should avoid enemy airports since they are dangerous." Other sensitive targets are under fire.”
This rhetoric signals a deliberate strategy to target civilian infrastructure to create psychological and operational pressure on Israel.
This attack is not an isolated incident but part of a rapidly escalating cycle of violence.
Ahmed al-Rahawi, the prime minister of the Houthi group, and several officials were murdered in Israeli bombings on the Houthi-controlled city of Sanaa a few days prior.For their own protection, foreigners have to abandon them.
The Houthis had publicly vowed to retaliate for these killings, promising to intensify attacks on both Israeli territory and international merchant ships in the Red Sea.
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Since the war in Gaza began following Hamas's October 7, 2023 assault, the Houthis have consistently launched missiles and drones toward Israel, citing solidarity with Palestinians. An investigation has revealed at least six successful strikes on Israeli territory:
The Houthis' continued ability and desire to project power well beyond Yemen's boundaries, namely targeting Israeli civilian areas, is demonstrated by their most recent attack on a major airport.
