• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Israel’s southern airspace was temporarily closed, and flights halted on Sunday after a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels struck Ramon International Airport, near the Red Sea resort city of Eilat, the Israeli military confirmed. The Israel Airports Authority said the drone hit the airport’s passenger hall, shattering windows and scattering glass near the baggage security area. Take-offs and landings were suspended while authorities worked to restore normal operations. Footage from the scene showed damage to the arrivals hall, though casualties were limited.

Two people were injured, a 63-year-old man with mild shrapnel wounds and a 52-year-old woman injured in a fall, while several others displayed anxiety symptoms, according to Magen David Adom, Israel’s ambulance service.

The Israeli military reported that multiple drones were launched, some intercepted before crossing into Israel. “The IAF intercepted three UAVs launched from Yemen, two of which were intercepted prior to entering Israeli territory. Sirens were sounded in southern Israel,” the IDF said in a tweet.

ALSO READ: ‘Ran Into Sewage Pond, Hid In Air Duct’: Inside US Raid On Hyundai Plant That Led To 475 Arrests, Mostly South Koreans | VIDEO

Retaliation And Regional Tensions

Sunday’s attack follows a wave of hostilities after Israel killed Ahmed al-Rahawi, the Houthi-appointed prime minister in Sanaa, in an airstrike two weeks earlier. Al-Rahawi’s death, alongside several ministers attending a government workshop, prompted the rebels to vow intensified attacks on Israel and on vessels navigating the Red Sea, a crucial shipping corridor.

In May, a Houthi missile struck near Israel’s main airport, lightly injuring four people and forcing airlines to suspend flights for months. In retaliation, Israel destroyed Yemen’s main airport in Sanaa. The current escalation represents a continuation of this tit-for-tat cycle, with Houthis now employing cluster munitions designed to bypass Israeli air defences.

Netanyahu Signals Continued Military Action

On the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue military operations in Gaza City, despite faltering truce talks with Hamas. The combined pressures of escalating drone attacks from Yemen and ongoing conflict in Gaza underscore Israel’s complex security challenges on multiple fronts.

ALSO READ: Japan’s Imperial Future At Crossroads: Prince Hisahito’s Coming-Of-Age Overshadowed By Male-Only Rule; Here's How

Opened in 2019, Ramon International Airport serves as a gateway to southern Israel, handling domestic and limited international flights. Its proximity, about 19 kilometres, to Eilat, a key tourist hub, makes it a sensitive target. Authorities emphasised swift restoration of services to minimise disruption and reassure travellers amid rising regional tensions.