YAF target Ben Gurion Airport, doubling down on aerial blockade
The Yemeni Armed Forces launched a hypersonic missile at Ben Gurion Airport, reinforcing their air blockade on "Israel" amid ongoing aggression on Gaza.
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People gather in a shelter after airstrike sirens sounded off in Ben Gurion Airport, occupied Palestine, early Friday, Jan. 3, 2024 (AP)
The Yemeni Armed Forces announced that they launched a hypersonic missile targeting the Ben Gurion airport on Tuesday, reaffirming the aerial blockade on "Israel".
"The Yemeni Armed Forces' missile unit launched a hypersonic ballistic missile strike on Lod Airport, known in Israel as Ben Gurion Airport, in the occupied area of Yafa," the group said in a statement.
#بالفيديو | مشاهد للصاروخ اليمني في سماء #فلسطين المحتلة.#الميادين pic.twitter.com/uAHBzbx2cA
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) May 13, 2025
The missile achieved its mission successfully, forcing millions of Israeli settlers into shelters and halting air traffic at the airport for around an hour, the statement added.
"This strike reinforces the ongoing flight restrictions at the airport and sends a clear message to airlines still operating in occupied Palestine: they must follow the lead of those that have already suspended their flights," the Yemeni Armed Forces said, reaffirming their air blockade on the Israeli occupation.
#بالفيديو | حالة من الخوف والهلع في مدرج مطار بن غوريون وسط #فلسطين المحتلة لحظة دوي صافرات الإنذار عقب إطلاق صاروخ من #اليمن.#الميادين pic.twitter.com/ay94S9nUbO
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) May 13, 2025
The Yemeni group asserted that their operations will continue until the war on Gaza ends and the blockade is lifted.
Israeli media claim missile intercepted
Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli occupation forces announced that they had detected a missile launch from Yemen toward the occupied Palestinian territories, while sirens sounded in vast areas, including al-Quds, Tel Aviv, and Netanya.
As Israeli forces scrambled to intercept the missile, Ben Gurion International Airport suspended all flights, with footage capturing terrified passengers on the runways and settlers across Tel Aviv rushing to bomb shelters.
Israeli media claimed that the Yemeni missile came close to reaching its target before being intercepted.
'Over Trump's head'
Israeli journalist Amit Segal, reacting to the incident, observed that the Yemenis had launched the missile just as then-President Trump was delivering a speech in Yemen's neighbor, Saudi Arabia.
Israeli journalist Barak Ravid offered a striking description of the situation, noting that one could practically imagine a Yemeni missile passing over Trump's head as he delivered his speech in Saudi Arabia before continuing toward "Israel". He noted that while the Yemenis had agreed not to fire on American ships, this restriction didn't extend to other American targets.
Local sources reported missile fragments landing in settlements near the West Bank city of Qalqilya.
#بالفيديو | سقوط شظايا صواريخ على مستوطنات في الضفة الغربية بعد هجوم صاروخي من #اليمن.#الميادين pic.twitter.com/jg9ttm3u8O
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) May 13, 2025