The Israeli military intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Saturday, amid escalating tensions in the region. Air raid sirens were sounded across Israel, including in Tel Aviv, after the Houthis—an ally of Iran and Hezbollah—claimed responsibility for the missile targeting Ben Gurion International Airport. The attack coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrival at the airport following his speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
This marks the second missile launched by the Houthis towards Israel in as many days, with another being intercepted on Friday. The missile launches highlight the increasing involvement of the Iran-aligned Houthis in the broader Middle Eastern conflict.
In a statement delivered shortly after landing back in Israel, Netanyahu hailed the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as a “historic turning point.” He said the death of Nasrallah was a “necessary condition” for achieving Israel’s goals, calling him a “master murderer” and the “central engine of Iran’s axis of evil.” Netanyahu stated that he personally authorized the operation, emphasizing that the recent Israeli military strikes against Hezbollah had not been sufficient.
Netanyahu also declared that Israel had “settled the score” with Nasrallah, who was responsible for the deaths of numerous Israelis and foreign nationals. He reaffirmed Israel’s determination to continue its military campaign against its enemies.
