Will Netanyahu Retaliate After Houthi Missile Strikes on Israel's Airport?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Netanyahu has vowed retaliation against the Houthis and Iran following a missile strike.
- The missile targeted a roadway near Ben Gurion Airport, causing injuries and flight cancellations.
- The Houthis claimed the strike was in solidarity with Palestinians during the Gaza conflict.
- Israel's defense systems were unable to intercept the missile.
- The situation highlights ongoing tensions in the region.
Jerusalem, May 5 (NationPress) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to take decisive action against the Houthi forces in Yemen and their ally, Iran, in response to a missile attack that targeted Israel's international airport. Posting on the social media platform X, the official account of the Prime Minister's Office remarked that "assaults by the Houthis originate from Iran." It further asserted that Israel "will retaliate for the Houthi assault on our primary airport and, at a time and place of our choosing, against their Iranian terror masters."
Earlier on Sunday, Netanyahu reiterated his warning to the Houthis, threatening an impending strike against the group. "We have launched attacks in the past, and we will do so again in the future," he stated in a video address.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the missile strike that impacted a roadway leading to the main terminal at Ben Gurion Airport, located outside Tel Aviv. Both Israeli and US-deployed aerial defense systems attempted to intercept the missile but were unsuccessful, according to a report from Xinhua news agency.
This attack resulted in four minor injuries and inflicted damage on the airport. In the aftermath of the missile strike, several international airlines, including Air Europa, Swiss International Air Lines, Lufthansa, ITA Airways, and Brussels Airlines, canceled flights to and from Israel.
In recent weeks, the Houthis have escalated missile and drone assaults amid renewed US airstrikes targeting their positions in Yemen.
Controlling much of northern Yemen, the Houthis have been targeting Israel since November 2023, framing their actions as a show of solidarity with Palestinians during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The group has indicated it would cease its attacks if Israel ends its military operations and permits humanitarian aid into the enclave.