Israel will respond to Houthi missile attack near Ben Gurion Airport, officials say, after flight cancellations; Netanyahu echoes Trump’s past warning that Iran would face consequences. Israel signaled a significant policy shift Sunday following a Houthi missile strike from Yemen that landed near Ben Gurion International Airport, its primary air gateway. In an emergency security meeting convened just hours after the strike, top Israeli officials concluded that “the time for restraint is over” and that Israel is preparing direct action against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The missile strike, which Israel says caused “significant strategic damage,” prompted multiple foreign airlines to cancel flights to and from Israel. The resulting disruption to international air traffic, officials noted, has had broader economic and security implications. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with senior ministers and heads of the Mossad, Shin Bet and IDF, participated in the call, which was followed by a session of the Security Cabinet. Until now, Israel had refrained from striking Houthi targets, reportedly out of deference to the United States, which has led a broad offensive against the Iran-backed militia since the collapse of the ceasefire in Gaza in March.
Israeli officials acknowledged that while U.S. operations in Yemen have been “very effective,” the Houthis still possess a significant arsenal of ballistic missiles, dozens of which have been fired at Israel in recent weeks. Washington has told Jerusalem it prefers to act alone but will not oppose an Israeli response following Sunday’s strike. (Ed Note:Remember that besides Israel's Air Force, they maintain a Navy which includes Corvette Sa'ar 5 and Sa'ar 6 ships, along with Dolphin-class diesel-electric submarines that are capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear weapons.) (Read more)
