Did Iran Really Engage in Houthi Attacks on Israel?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Iran denies involvement in Houthi attacks on Israel, calling the claims baseless.
- The Iranian Foreign Ministry emphasizes the importance of national sovereignty.
- Israel threatens retaliation against Houthi forces and Iran.
- The Houthis continue missile and drone attacks as part of their support for Palestinians.
- International airlines have canceled flights due to security concerns following the attacks.
Tehran, May 5 (NationPress) On Monday, Iran firmly denied the allegations made by US and Israeli officials regarding its participation in the Houthi attacks on Israel from Yemen. The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement early in the day, labeling the repetition of these "unfounded" accusations as an "insult to the resilient yet oppressed" Yemeni people.
The statement emphasized the importance of honoring the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of nations, condemning US military operations in Yemen as a "gross infringement" of the UN Charter and international law.
This declaration came shortly after the Houthi faction declared a comprehensive air blockade on Israel, citing it as a response to Israel's decision to escalate its aggression against Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Sunday to take action against the Houthi forces in Yemen and their ally, Iran, following the missile attack. The Prime Minister's Office communicated via X, asserting that "the Houthi attacks originate from Iran", and stated that Israel would respond to the Houthi strike against their main airport and, at a time and place of their choosing, to their "Iranian terror overlords".
Netanyahu also issued another warning to the Houthis, threatening a retaliatory strike against the group, stating, "We have attacked in the past, and we will do so again in the future," in a video message.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile strike that targeted a driveway leading to the main terminal of Ben Gurion Airport, located outside Tel Aviv, as reported by Xinhua news agency. Attempts by Israeli and US-deployed aerial defense systems to intercept the missile were unsuccessful.
The attack resulted in four minor injuries and caused some damage. Numerous international airlines, including Air Europa, Swiss International Air Lines, Lufthansa, ITA Airways, and Brussels Airlines, canceled flights to and from Israel after the missile incident.
In recent weeks, the Houthis have escalated their missile and drone assaults amid renewed US airstrikes on their positions in Yemen. The Houthis, who control a significant portion of northern Yemen, have been targeting Israel since November 2023, framing it as an act of solidarity with Palestinians during the ongoing Gaza conflict. They have indicated a willingness to cease their attacks if Israel ends its military operations and permits humanitarian aid into the region.