Yemen’s Armed Forces carried out a high-precision missile strike Tuesday targeting Ben Gurion Airport, located in the Lod area of Jaffa, using a newly unveiled hypersonic ballistic missile named Palestine 2. The operation, confirmed by military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree, was described as a direct response to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people.

According to Saree, the missile successfully hit its intended target, disrupting airport operations and triggering mass evacuations across central Israel. Air raid sirens were activated in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Ashdod, as Israeli defense systems including Arrow and THAAD responded to the launch.

Israeli media outlets, including Channel 12, confirmed that Ben Gurion Airport was temporarily shut down, with flights suspended and passengers directed to shelters. No casualties have been reported, though the psychological and logistical impact was immediate.

The strike marks a significant escalation in Yemen’s military campaign, which has intensified since March in response to what it calls the “genocidal siege” of Gaza. Over 60,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since October 2023, according to regional sources and humanitarian monitors.

Yemen’s leadership framed the operation as a moral, religious, and regional duty, vowing to continue missile and drone strikes until the blockade on Gaza is lifted. Saree emphasized that Yemen’s people, army, and government stand “unconditionally” with the besieged population of Gaza.

Security analysts in Israel, including Eyal Zisser, Vice Rector of Tel Aviv University, acknowledged the growing threat posed by Yemen’s long-range capabilities. He noted that recent attacks have shut down the port of Eilat and disrupted Red Sea maritime trade, impacting key sectors of Israel’s economy.

The missile, reportedly launched from territory controlled by Yemen’s Sanaa-based government, is part of a broader campaign that includes naval blockades and targeted strikes on Israeli infrastructure. The operation also coincides with Yemen’s announcement of a fourth phase of its naval embargo against vessels linked to Israel.

As tensions mount across the region, observers warn that Yemen’s actions—once dismissed as symbolic—now carry strategic consequences for Israel’s security and economic stability. The strike on Ben Gurion Airport may signal a shift in the regional balance, with Yemen asserting its role in the so-called Axis of Resistance.

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