Yemeni Military Strikes Israeli Ben Gurion Airport with Ballistic Missile

Yahya Saree, spokesperson for Yemen’s armed forces, announced in a statement that a Zulfiqar ballistic missile had been launched at Lod Airport, situated in the occupied Jaffa area near Tel Aviv.

He said the strike achieved its objectives, triggering air raid sirens across more than 300 cities and settlements in occupied Palestine.

Saree said millions of Zionists were forced into shelters, and air traffic at the airport was halted.

He stressed that Yemen would continue developing its capabilities and strengthening its role in supporting the Palestinian people.

According to Saree, Yemen intends to expand operations by targeting military and strategic facilities in occupied territories and maintaining a naval blockade against Israel.

He affirmed that Yemen’s military campaigns would persist until Israel stops its aggression and lifts the siege on Gaza.

Following the launch, alarms sounded throughout central occupied Palestine, forcing civilians into hiding.

Israeli military sources claimed the missile was intercepted and destroyed.

The strike occurred hours after Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a senior member of the Ansarallah Political Council, declared Yemen’s commitment to backing Palestinian resistance until a full ceasefire is achieved.

Al-Bukhaiti warned Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that any escalation would be met with intensified Yemeni retaliation.

Yemeni sources reported continued progress in air defense capabilities, revealing that their forces were preparing further surprises to challenge the Zionist enemy’s air power.

In recent weeks, Yemen has increased operations against Israel, sinking several affiliated vessels and launching repeated missile barrages deep into occupied territory.

Saree stated that Yemen’s air defenses had effectively countered Israeli attacks, using domestically produced surface-to-air missiles to disrupt pilots and command centers.

He affirmed that Yemeni defenses remained fully operational and committed to countering aggression, pledging accelerated support for Gaza.

Military analysts said Yemen is establishing a new equation against Israel, combining missile strikes, naval disruption, and increasingly sophisticated air defenses.

Brigadier General Abdulghani al-Zubaidi, a military expert in Sanaa, told Al Jazeera the events show significant advancement in Yemen’s defensive capabilities, compelling Israeli pilots to face heightened risk.

Al-Zubaidi said Yemeni systems rely entirely on locally produced weapons, marking an unprecedented development in Arab military industries.

He added that even US officials had acknowledged the complexity of countering Yemen’s missile arsenal.

Abdulaziz Abu Talib, a military affairs analyst, stated that Yemen’s integrated defense network—combining radars, effective interceptors, and electronic warfare countermeasures—has proven capable of thwarting Israeli air raids.

He noted that Yemen’s arsenal includes advanced ballistic missiles such as the Mutayeh, powered by solid fuel and designed for high-speed maneuvering, and that more undisclosed systems remain.

Abu Talib said Yemeni forces had nearly downed US-made F-35 and F-16 jets during previous confrontations, underscoring a turning point that could erode Israel’s air superiority.

He warned that Israel faces mounting challenges as Yemen’s military industries advance and air defenses become more sophisticated.

Journalist Hamdan al-Bakari suggested Yemen may be acquiring new military capabilities posing a direct threat to Israeli aircraft over Yemeni territory.

He said Yemeni forces were actively working to improve their systems, from repeated missile strikes on Israel to attempts at penetrating the Iron Dome and ultimately targeting Israeli jets within Yemeni airspace.