Yemen Targets Key Occupation Airport with Hypersonic Missile; US-Made THAAD Defense System Fails Anew

Yemen’s Armed Forces have launched another hypersonic ballistic missile targeting Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, located near Tel Aviv. This marks the second instance this week where the U.S. THAAD defense system has reportedly failed to intercept the projectile.

The operation was conducted on Friday, resulting in widespread disruption across the occupied Palestinian territories. It prompted millions of settlers to seek refuge in shelters, according to a statement released by forces through spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree.

An official has stated that the recent qualitative military operation has successfully accomplished its intended objectives.

A projectile launch activated warning sirens throughout Tel Aviv and in over 200 additional locations, according to reports from Israeli media outlets.

The Israeli military swiftly mobilized its missile defense systems, including the U.S.-manufactured THAAD, in response to an attack, as reported by Channel 14. A high-ranking Yemeni official has issued a formidable warning to Israel, vowing retaliation following the recent aggressive aerial assaults on Yemen by the Israeli regime.

Reports indicate that the missile defense system was unable to intercept the projectile, marking the second instance in which the costly mechanism proved ineffective against Yemeni strikes.

Israeli media sources have reported explosions in the eastern part of Tel Aviv and the contested city of al-Quds, coinciding with the activation of the THAAD missile defense system.

Flights at Ben Gurion Airport were temporarily halted for close to an hour.

Saree reported that the Friday attack was conducted as part of enforcing the no-fly zone against what was referred to as the criminal Israeli adversary entity.

Military interception systems were unable to successfully intercept the missile, leading to a disruption of airport operations for approximately one hour.

A spokesperson announced that the Yemeni Armed Forces’ UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) force executed a military operation targeting a significant Israeli asset in the occupied region of Yaffa, near Tel Aviv.

Airlines have been issued multiple warnings.

The spokesperson declared that Yemeni forces are committed to maintaining the aerial blockade without any hesitation.

The Armed Forces have issued a renewed warning to airlines that have not yet adhered to the ban, urging them to immediately cease their flights to occupied Palestine, in line with actions taken by other carriers.

Yemen’s military spokesperson, Saree, reiterated Sana’a’s position, declaring that military operations targeting crucial Israeli sites would continue until Israel halts its military actions in Gaza and lifts the blockade. Meanwhile, the Yemeni Armed Forces declared their intention to enforce a comprehensive aerial blockade on Israel by persistently targeting its airports.

Yemen’s Armed Forces have conducted operations in solidarity with Gaza, implementing a naval blockade targeting Israeli ships and vessels heading towards the area since October 2023.

The blockade was implemented as a reaction to the regime’s initiation of a highly lethal campaign of genocide in the Gaza Strip, while concurrently intensifying its already severe siege on the Palestinian territory.

In May, Yemeni forces initiated an extensive aerial blockade targeting the regime and issued warnings to international airlines, advising them to halt flights to airports within the occupied territories to ensure the safety of passengers.