The Houthis target Ben Gurion Airport with a ballistic missile, and Israel threatens a harsh response.

The Israeli police announced the fall of a rocket near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on Sunday, May 3, after being launched from Yemen in an attack later claimed by the Houthi group, indicating the use of a "ballistic missile with a supersonic head." The Israeli army stated that it attempted to intercept the rocket several times without success.

Commander Yair Hatzroni, commander of the Central Brigade, documented the rocket's impact site, which created a crater "tens of meters wide and deep," according to Agence France-Presse, with the airport's control tower visible in the footage.

The "Israeli Army Radio" reported that the rocket was not intercepted, resulting in three people sustaining minor injuries.

Magen David Adom stated that they treated a man in his fifties in fair to moderate condition, a 54-year-old woman in good condition, and another woman (32 years old) injured while fleeing to a shelter.

Channel 13 Israeli aired footage showing thick smoke above the airport area, while Agence France-Presse correspondents confirmed hearing an explosion in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Following the attack, the Israeli Airports Authority briefly halted air traffic before announcing the "resumption of takeoffs and landings as usual," confirming that "Ben Gurion Airport is open and operating normally."

Israeli Reactions

Israeli threats escalated after the attack, with Defense Minister Israel Katz stating: "Whoever hits us, we will respond with sevenfold force."

Meanwhile, Knesset member Benny Gantz accused Iran of being behind the attack, writing on "Twitter": "This is not Yemen, it's Iran. It's Iran launching ballistic missiles at the state of Israel, and it must bear responsibility."

He called for the "Israeli government to wake up," considering the attack "should lead to a strong response in Tehran."

Emergency Security Meetings

An Israeli official revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to hold a phone meeting with the Defense Minister and top security officials to discuss "possible responses," according to Times of Israel.

The meeting is expected to discuss military response options, including strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

Netanyahu will also hold an evening meeting of the Security Cabinet to discuss the escalation in Gaza and Syria in addition to the Houthi attack.

Houthi Statement

In their statement, the Houthi group claimed that the attack "defeated American and Israeli interception systems" and led to "a complete halt of airport operations for over an hour." The group warned international airlines against continuing flights to Ben Gurion Airport, describing it as "unsafe."