Israeli airport was forced to stop flights as a drone fired by Houthi rebels struck near the area, local media reported, citing authorities. Israel stated that Houthi fired multiple drones, many of which were neutralized midway through the air by Israeli forces. However, one drone hit the southern Israeli airport, leading to the closure of airport immediately.
Dramatic videos shared on X show thick black smoke rising near Ramon Airport soon after a suspected drone attack. Security forces responded quickly, and investigations are ongoing.
Several Drones Launched by Houthis
Earlier, the Israeli military shot down three drones coming from Yemen, raising fears of coordinated attacks by the Houthis. Reports suggest at least one drone may have slipped past Israel’s defenses.
The Israeli military said, “A short while ago, the IAF intercepted three UAVs from Yemen,” adding that two were destroyed before entering Israeli airspace, while the fate of the third was not clear.
This attack comes months after a Houthi missile struck near Israel’s main airport, lightly injuring four people and forcing many airlines to suspend flights to Israel for several months. In retaliation, Israel destroyed the main airport in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa.
Two weeks ago, Israel also killed Yemen’s Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and 11 senior officials in airstrikes. Following this, Houthi rebels promised to step up attacks on Israel and on ships passing through the Red Sea near Yemen.
Houthis Used Advanced Drones Against Israel
Recently, the rebels have used cluster munitions in their missile attacks. These bombs split into smaller explosives, making them harder to stop and increasing the chances of hitting targets. This comes as Israel prepares for a possible ground offensive against Hamas in Gaza, where the ongoing conflict has caused widespread destruction.
Meanwhile, Israel has continued to push deeper into Gaza, demolishing high-rise buildings in the war-torn area. The Israeli forces justified the decision and claimed that the building was used by Hamas as a terror infrastructure. More Gaza residents have been asked by Israeli forces to evacuate, as countries around the world urge Israel to reconsider its decision.
At Least 63,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the ongoing war that will complete two years in October.
While several countries are debating recognition of Palestine, Israel has said that any such decision will only bring destabilization in the region.
