The Yemeni Armed Forces launched a ballistic missile that struck “Ben Gurion Airport” on Thursday, in what they described as a “high-precision military operation” targeting the Israeli occupation entity’s main international gateway near the occupied city of “Tel Aviv.”
The missile, identified as a Zulfiqar, was launched by Yemen’s missile unit and successfully hit its mark, according to military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree.
🇾🇪/🇮🇱🚨Yemeni army launches second missile attack on Israel in less than 24 hours. A Zulfiqar missile was fired at Ben Gurion Airport around 3 a.m., followed by another missile at noon. Additionally, two suicide drones targeted Tel Aviv and Haifa yesterday.#Yemen #Israel pic.twitter.com/R1djg22As5
— IWN (@A7_Mirza) May 22, 2025
Saree said the strike forced a shutdown of airport operations for nearly an hour and sent over a million Israelis scrambling for shelter, underscoring the growing reach of Yemen’s retaliatory capabilities amid the Israeli enemy’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
Dual Drone Strikes in Haifa and Jaffa
In a parallel operation, Yemen’s air force carried out a coordinated drone assault using two Yafa-type UAVs. These drones reportedly targeted strategic sites in the occupied cities of Haifa and Jaffa.
The armed forces described the strikes as part of a broader response to the massacres committed by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza.
Brigadier General Saree warned that Yemen would continue and escalate its support operations unless the assault on Gaza ends.
“The people of Gaza are defending the entire Arab and Islamic nation. Yemen will, with God’s help, continue its support operations and will not hesitate to escalate,” he said, framing the attacks as a moral, religious, and humanitarian duty.
Israeli Media Confirm Airport Shutdown
Hebrew-language media outlets corroborated the missile launch from Yemen and confirmed disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported a halt in landings and widespread delays following the strike while noting a mass rush of civilians to bomb shelters.
The attack intensified the already cautious stance of international airlines, many of which have suspended flights to and from Israel amid security concerns.
According to ‘Israel Hayom,’ Air France and Dutch airline Transavia extended their suspension of flights until May 24. Italian carrier ITA Airways has halted flights to and from ‘Tel Aviv’ until June 8.
International Flights in Limbo
Hebrew media outlets described the impact on Ben Gurion as severe, stating the airport “no longer maintains the vibrant activity it once had” due to continued Yemeni strikes.
It also highlighted the growing reluctance of global carriers to resume services to the occupied lands, citing mounting fears over security and operational stability.
Israeli media reports that several planes en route to Ben Gurion Airport were forced to turn back following a missile launched by Yemen targeting central Israel. https://t.co/en3BH7klRx pic.twitter.com/Ght8Ldtf0b
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) May 22, 2025
Yemen’s military has issued repeated warnings to international airlines, urging them to avoid Israeli airspace as part of its campaign to impose a full aerial blockade on the country.
According to the latest estimates, at least 20 international airlines have suspended operations at Zionist airports in response to the escalating Yemeni missile and drone campaign — a move that is steadily eroding the occupied territories’ air connectivity and deepening the sense of economic and security disarray within the country.
Source: Al-Manar Website
