Israel intercepts missile from Yemen, Houthis claim attack
The interception of a missile that the Israeli military said had been fired from Yemen, as seen from the city of Ashkelon, Israel, May 18, 2025. (Photo: Reuters/Amir Cohen)
JERUSALEM: The Israeli military said on Sunday (May 18) it had intercepted a missile fired from Yemen, where the Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed to have launched two missiles at Israel's main airport.
"Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted," the Israeli army said in a Telegram post.
The Houthis said they had targeted Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv with two ballistic missiles.
The militants have regularly fired missiles and drones at Israel since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023, following an attack on Israel by the Houthis' Palestinian ally Hamas.
On Friday, Israel bombed the Houthi-held Red Sea ports of Hodeida and Salif following three missile attacks in as many days. It threatened to target the Houthi leadership if the attacks continued.
The Houthi administration said the strikes "will be met with a painful response", according to the Houthi-run Saba news agency.
The Houthis, who control swathes of Yemen, have launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza war, saying they act in solidarity with Palestinians.
Their firing on the shipping route drew retaliatory strikes by the United States.
However, in early May, the United States sealed a ceasefire with the Houthis that did not include Israel.
