Yemeni Huti attack at Ben Gurion Airport

could origin regional conflict

Yemeni attack-huti-na-airport-ben-gurion

On May 4, 2025, Israeli airport Ben Gurion became the mark of a rocket attack conducted by the Huti group of Yemen. A ballistic rocket hit the airport area, causing a temporary suspension of air operations. Although no casualties were reported, the incidental caused strong reactions both in Israel and beyond its borders. It was peculiarly worrying that advanced defence systems – Israeli Arrow and American THAAD – failed to intercept the missile.

In consequence to attack several global airlines, including Wizz Air, Lufthansa, Air France, Air Europe, Austrian and Swiss Airlines, temporarily suspended flights to Israel. The carriers referred to safety considerations – Wizz Air suspended flights for 48 hours, until 6 May morning. These decisions could hit the Israeli tourism sector and deepen the concerns of investors and travellers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence Minister Israel Katz announced a fast consultation on a possible consequence to the attack. The safety office is scheduled to meet at 19:00, and 1 of the options under consideration is simply a direct attack on Huti's targets in Yemen. Minister Katz's quote: “Whoever hurts us will be hit 7 times” clearly indicates the determination of the authorities in Tel Aviv.

The events of May 4 fit into a longer string of tensions in the region. In November 2024, Hezbollah hit the Ben Gurion area with rockets, and in March 2025 the Huti had already conducted a 3rd attack within 48 hours at the same airport, utilizing an advanced rocket Palestine 2. All of these events point to the increasing capacity of groups supported by Iran to meet strategical targets in Israel.

The regional context is not conducive to deescalation – the ceasefire between Israel and Huti in early 2025 was broken after the Israeli blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Huti, declaring their support for the Palestinians, has continued a series of attacks on Israeli targets since the end of 2023, including merchant ships in the Red Sea and now the country's most crucial airport.

If Israel decides to counterattack, it can lead to escalation of unpredictable effects. Moving the conflict from Gaza and Lebanon to the southwest – to Yemen – could affect another countries in war effort.

This besides represents fresh strategical challenges for Israel: the request to extend the rocket defence to thousands of kilometres and the hazard of further deterioration of relations with regional partners.