YAF say targeted 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with hypersonic missile
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Yemeni operations against "Israel" continue, bringing the entity's air traffic to a halt and forcing settlers into shelters yet again.
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Spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree in a recorded statement on May 25, 2025. (YAF Military Media / Screengrab)
The Missile Force of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a top-tier military operation targeting Lod Airport, referred to by the Israeli occupation entity as Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, using a hypersonic ballistic missile, YAF spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree announced on Sunday.
The operation successfully achieved its objective, causing millions of Israeli settlers to flee to shelters and leading to the suspension of airport operations, Saree confirmed.
The spokesperson said the operation was in support of the oppressed Palestinian people and their Resistance fighters and in rejection of the genocide being committed by "Israel" there.
بيان القوات المسلحة اليمنية بشأن تنفيذ عملية عسكرية استهدفت مطار اللد المسمى إسرائيلياً "مطار بن غوريون" في منطقة يافا المحتلة وذلك بصاروخ باليستي فرط صوتي. بتاريخ25 أيار/مايو 2025 pic.twitter.com/NWICAro7Ow
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) May 25, 2025
He also underscored that the YAF's operations will continue and will escalate until the Israeli aggression on Gaza is halted and the blockade imposed on the Palestinian enclave is lifted.
Furthermore, Saree confirmed that the latest missile strike was part of the ongoing aerial blockade enforced by the Yemeni Armed Forces against the Israeli entity. He noted that in recent days, a growing number of international carriers have complied with the flight restrictions, significantly disrupting operations at Lod Airport (Ben Gurion).
Israeli media had earlier reported the launch of a projectile from Yemeni territory, followed by air raid sirens sounding across al-Quds and surrounding settlements. Concurrently, "Israel’s" Kan channel confirmed that flight operations at Ben Gurion Airport were temporarily suspended.
Aviation tracking data at the time of the strike indicated that at least four inbound flights were forced into holding patterns over the Mediterranean coast, awaiting clearance as airspace remained restricted due to the ongoing threat environment.
Earlier, the Israeli occupation military claimed that its "air defenses dealt with a ballistic missile launched from Yemen," after air raid sirens sounded across large areas of the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Israeli military later alleged that they had intercepted the missile.
British airways extends flight suspension to 'Israel' until July 31
British Airways has extended its suspension of flights to and from "Israel" through July 31, citing persistent security risks following a missile strike from Yemen near Ben Gurion Airport earlier this month, as well as repeated missile launches that bring air traffic to a halt. The UK carrier had previously paused operations until mid-June, but ongoing instability has prompted a longer delay.
The decision comes in the aftermath of the May 4 incident, when a ballistic missile bypassed Israeli air defenses and struck near Terminal 3’s control tower, landing just a few hundred meters from a critical access road. The event raised immediate concerns about aviation security in "Israel", prompting numerous international airlines to reevaluate their routes. Meanwhile, many major airlines remain cautious.
The following carriers have extended their "Israel" flight cancellations:
- Air France, LOT Polish Airlines: Suspended through May 26
- Iberia (Spain): Suspended through May 31
- airBaltic (Latvia): Suspended through June 2
- ITA Airways, Lufthansa, Austrian, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings: Suspended through June 8
- Ryanair: Suspended through June 11
- United Airlines: Suspended through June 12
- Air India: Suspended through June 19
Furthermore, foreign carriers have jointly called on "Israel’s" Transportation Ministry to formally announce a state of emergency, requesting regulatory relief to help facilitate the safe and economically viable resumption of operations.
In a letter to Transportation Minister Miri Regev, attorney Shirly Kazir of FISCHER & Co. wrote, “In light of the current state of emergency and the disastrous consequences of security incidents on the aviation and tourism industry… it appears that the conditions are ripe to issue an order to instate mechanisms applicable for emergency situations.”
The request includes a call for the easing of passenger compensation obligations under aviation law, as per Israeli media.
Read more: Ben Gurion flight suspensions disrupt travel, economy
