Israel hit by ballistic missile attack, main airport closed

A ballistic missile attack on Israel from Yemen has triggered sirens in Israel as a warning and flights at the country’s main international airport, Ben Gurion, were temporarily suspended.

This information was reported by the Qatar-based media Al Jazeera, citing Channel 12.

The report said that Ben Gurion is Israel’s main and busiest international airport. It is not yet clear how long the temporary suspension of flights at the airport will be in effect.

The Israeli military said that it had shot down a ballistic missile launched from Yemen by Israel on Sunday morning (May 18).

The country’s military said that sirens were sounded across central Israel as a warning due to the missile launch. Channel 12 reported that another missile was fired from Yemen towards Israel, but that attempt was unsuccessful.

Al Jazeera reported that 15 Israeli warplanes dropped 30 bombs on the ports of Hodeidah and Salif, controlled by the Iran-backed Yemeni armed group Houthi, on Friday night. The Houthi-controlled Health Ministry said several civilians were killed in the attack.

The missile attack from Yemen came a day after the Israeli attack. The Houthis said they were carrying out the attack in solidarity with the Palestinians in protest against Israel’s indiscriminate attacks on Gaza.

Earlier this month, a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis hit the perimeter of Ben Gurion International Airport, damaging a road and a vehicle at the airport.