Ben Gurion Airport Closed Indefinitely Following Yemeni Missile Strike
Israeli aviation authorities have temporarily halted all incoming and outgoing flights at Ben Gurion International Airport. The facility will remain closed "until further notice" following a missile attack by Yemeni Armed Forces. The attack was in retaliation for what they described as the Tel Aviv regime's ongoing actions against Palestinians in Gaza.
According to reports from pan-Arab media sources, international air travel was effectively halted to and from the Israeli-occupied territories early on Sunday. This development occurred as air raid sirens echoed across various areas near the Dead Sea, triggered by the launch of a ballistic missile.
No immediate reports of injuries or damage were available.
The Israeli military subsequently reported in a succinct statement that its anti-air missile systems were actively engaged in efforts to intercept the incoming projectile.
The event unfolded less than a week following the Yemeni army’s assertion of launching a ballistic missile aimed at Ben Gurion Airport.
In a televised announcement aired by al-Masirah TV on July 1, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni military, declared that a specialized military operation had been executed. The operation reportedly targeted Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv utilizing a hypersonic ballistic missile designated as Palestine-2.
He stated that the missile strike “effectively met its objective” by compelling “millions of settlers to seek shelter and causing disruptions in airport operations.”
Saree announced that a series of unidirectional unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) assaults were launched, targeting “three sensitive locations” in Eilat, Tel Aviv, and Ashkelon.
As hostilities in Gaza escalated, Yemeni forces initiated a strategic blockade targeting key maritime routes. This move is intended to disrupt the flow of military supplies to Israel and to urge the international community to take action regarding the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
The Yemeni Armed Forces have declared their intention to persist with their strikes until Israel ceases its terrestrial and aerial operations in Gaza. The conflict, which erupted on October 7, 2023, has resulted in the deaths of over 57,300 Palestinians.
