Israel intends to operate in Yemen – this was the conclusion reached at the end of a high-level meeting convened this evening (Sunday) by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with senior defense officials and a small number of ministers. The meeting was held in light of the growing aggression from the Houthi rebels and their continued missile fire at Israeli territory.
At the Time and Place of Our Choosing
Netanyahu wrote on social platform X: “President Trump is absolutely right! The Houthi attacks come from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack on our main airport, and also – at a time and place of our choosing – against their Iranian terror masters.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
President Trump is absolutely right!
Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters. pic.twitter.com/Feqhn9fhZr— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) May 4, 2025
There Will Be Blows
“We are acting against them in coordination with the U.S. We have operated against them in the past, and we will operate against them again in the future. It’s not a one-and-done strike, but there will be blows,” said Netanyahu in a long video where he answered questions on various topics.
Impact at Ben Gurion Airport
As previously reported, a missile was launched from Yemen this morning that was not intercepted and fell near the access road to Ben Gurion Airport. Within minutes, flight operations were halted, and extensive security sweeps were carried out in coordination with the Home Front Command, police, bomb squads, and the Israel Airports Authority security teams. Once it was confirmed there was no damage to runways or surrounding airport areas, flight arrivals and departures resumed as normal.
Quote from the Director of Ben Gurion Airport:
“Ben Gurion Airport has remained fully operational since the outbreak of the war, serving over 22 million passengers. Passenger safety is our top priority. This morning we experienced a missile fall near the access road, but within less than 30 minutes, the airport resumed full operation of arrivals, departures, and terminal activity.”
Six People Sustained Minor to Moderate Injuries
Paramedics and medics from Magen David Adom (MDA) provided medical care to six injured individuals – including a 50-year-old man with limb injuries, two women hurt by the blast wave, a man hit by a flying object, and two women who were lightly injured while running to a shelter. Two others were treated for shock.
Continuing Threats
Despite repeated U.S. airstrikes across Yemen, senior Houthi leader Hazem al-Asad wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), continuing to issue threats: “Just as the port of Eilat was shut down, Ben Gurion Airport will also be closed – until the aggression ends and the siege on Gaza is lifted,” he wrote.
He also warned international airlines against flying to Israel, calling on them to “avoid endangering passengers and aircraft at an airport that has been designated as a target.”
