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On May 4, 2025, a missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv temporarily grounded flights, shut down roads, and intensified fears of a wider Middle East conflict. The missile, launched by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, landed near the access road to Israel’s busiest airport.
Takeaway: The strike added a new layer of urgency to Israel’s already escalating military operations in Gaza.
How the Strike Unfolded
The Houthis claimed responsibility, describing it as a hypersonic ballistic missile fired in solidarity with Palestinians. The projectile evaded Israel’s THAAD and Arrow defense systems, landing in a field and carving a crater just outside the airport grounds.
A plume of smoke rose near the runway as air raid sirens sounded across central Israel. Reports say four to eight people were injured by debris or the shockwave.
Takeaway: This missile strike near Ben Gurion revealed a rare failure in Israel’s multi-layered missile defense network.
Travel Chaos and Airline Suspensions
Following the blast, all flights and ground transport in and out of the airport were suspended for roughly an hour. Several international carriers—Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways, Delta, and others—canceled or rerouted Tel Aviv flights, some extending suspensions through May 6.
Passengers scrambled for options, while Israeli airlines like El Al and Israir saw spikes in both ticket sales and stock prices.
Takeaway: The missile strike near Ben Gurion threw global air travel into disarray and left many passengers stranded.
Political Fallout and Military Mobilization
The timing was critical: Israel’s Cabinet was preparing to vote on expanding military operations in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed retaliation, with Netanyahu stating, “We will harm them sevenfold.”
Thousands of reservists were called up immediately, signaling a potential new phase in Israel’s campaign against Hamas and now, the Houthis.
Takeaway: This strike may accelerate broader Israeli military action—not just in Gaza but also in Yemen.
A Warning to the World
The Houthis warned airlines to avoid Israeli airspace, claiming Ben Gurion is no longer safe. Despite ongoing U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Houthi targets, the rebels have demonstrated long-range capabilities that continue to penetrate high-security areas.
International leaders are now watching closely, worried that this latest incident could drag more actors into the conflict.
Takeaway: The missile strike near Ben Gurion sent a global message: even high-security targets are no longer off-limits.
