Daijiworld Media Network- Sanaa

Sanaa, Jun 11: Tensions in the Middle East escalated further as Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for launching two ballistic missiles—one reportedly hypersonic—toward Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.

In a statement broadcast on Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, military spokesperson Yahya Sarea declared, “We targeted Ben Gurion Airport using two ballistic missiles. One of them, a hypersonic missile, directly hit the airport, bypassing Israel’s interceptor systems.”

The spokesperson added that air traffic at Ben Gurion Airport had been disrupted and warned international airlines to halt flights to and from Israel immediately.

The Houthi group stated that the missile launches were a retaliatory measure in response to Israeli airstrikes earlier on Yemeni ports under their control. On Tuesday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it had carried out strikes on three ports in Yemen’s western Hodeidah province, reportedly destroying infrastructure at key docking areas. These ports have been repeatedly targeted in recent months as tensions flared in the Red Sea region.

In contrast to Houthi claims, the IDF stated that one ballistic missile was likely intercepted by air defenses over central Israel. The Israeli military did not confirm the second missile impact nor any reported damage or casualties.

The Houthis, who control a large part of northern Yemen, have intensified attacks on Israeli-linked assets since November 2023 in what they claim is a show of support for Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

As the conflict sees new fronts open across borders, the international community is keeping a close watch on the evolving situation, which threatens to destabilize regional security even further.