Illustrative image (Israeli Defense Forces)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 4 afternoon that Israel will respond to the strike on Ben Gurion Airport by the Houthis (Ansar Allah) in Yemen, as well as to Iran itself, “at a time and place of our choosing.”
The Houthis launched what they described as “a hypersonic ballistic missile” at the airport in the morning. The missile bypassed Israel’s entire air defense array, in addition to a United States-operated Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery, before hitting the airport. Six people were reportedly wounded.
This was the 27th such attack by the Houthis since Israel renewed its offensive in the Gaza Strip on March 18. All previous missiles fell short, or were intercepted.
The attack came amid a large-scale U.S. operation against the Houthis. More than 800 targets of the group have been hit since the start of the operation on March 15, with Houthi-run health authorities reporting more than 250 casualties, including women and children.
“Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran. Israel will respond to the Houthi attack against our main airport AND, at a time and place of our choosing, to their Iranian terror masters,” Netanyahu wrote on the X social network, attaching a March 17 post by U.S. President Donald Trump with a warning to Iran that Washington will retaliate to Houthi attacks by addressing Tehran directly.
The Foreign Ministry reiterates Netanyahu’s message, writing in a separate post: “The Houthi attacks are Iranian attacks — Iran uses them as a proxy to spread terror and undermine the regional and global order.
“The world must hold Iran accountable for these attacks,” says the ministry, adding that “Israel has the right to defend itself, and it will exercise this right at a time of its choosing.”
Netanyahu’s threat came exactly three weeks into indirect nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran. Despite the talks, Wshington itself warned Tehran recently against continuing to back the Houthis.
On April 30, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran that it will face consequences for supporting the group.
“Message to IRAN: We see your LETHAL support to The Houthis. We know exactly what you are doing,” Hegseth wrote on X. “You know very well what the US Military is capable of — and you were warned. You will pay the CONSEQUENCE at the time and place of our choosing.”
Israel has always followed through with such threats to Iran, although the effectiveness of its only two direct attacks on the Islamic Republic last year were questioned.
Recent reports unveiled Israeli and American plans for a possible joint attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Israel will not likely go this far in its upcoming response to the Houthi missile attack. However, the situation could escalate quickly as Tehran is guaranteed to hit back.
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