"The Huthis' attack has its origin in Iran. Israel will respond to the Huthi attack on our largest airport," writes Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement on X and adds that the Huthis' "Iranian masters" will also get a response "at a time and place of our choice".
"We will strike seven times stronger," says Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz.
The Huthi movement has taken responsibility for the attack. A spokesperson for the movement threatens new attacks on airports, not least Ben Gurion, and urges airlines to cancel their flights to and from Israel on Sunday evening.
Passed air defense
Smoke was seen rising towards the sky after a powerful explosion was heard in the area around the airport outside Tel Aviv on Sunday morning. Israel's military confirms that a hit occurred near Ben Gurion Airport. Six people were lightly injured.
"A crater has been formed here, tens of meters wide and tens of meters deep," says police officer Yair Hezroni in a video filmed on the spot.
Sirens sounded in parts of Israel before the assault and the military says that several attempts were made to stop the projectile. But Israel's advanced air defense failed to shoot it down. An initial investigation shows that a "technical problem" caused a targeting system to malfunction, the Israeli Air Force announces.
The rocket hit near an access road to Ben Gurion. None of the airport's runways or buildings were damaged.
Stopped flights
According to Israel's aviation authority, it is the first time a rocket has hit so close to the terminals and runways.
Several major airlines have stopped their flights to and from the airport. German Lufthansa until May 6 and British Airways until May 7.
The Huthi movement, which controls large parts of Yemen, has repeatedly attacked Israel with rockets and drones that have traveled long distances. They have also directed many attacks against Israel-related targets in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed movement says it is acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in war-torn Gaza – also during Sunday's attack.
