JERUSALEM: Israel’s defence minister vowed a forceful response after a missile fired from Yemen was intercepted on Friday, in an attack claimed by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels.“The Huthis continue to launch Iranian missiles at Israel. As we promised, we will respond forcefully in Yemen and wherever necessary,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a post on X.Earlier, Israel’s military said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, and AFP journalists reported explosions heard in the Jerusalem area.In a statement, the Huthis, who control vast swathes of Yemen including the capital Sanaa, claimed responsibility for the missile launch.They said they had targeted Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.Friday’s launch comes after attacks by the Huthis including a strike near Israel’s main airport on Sunday, in a rare missile attack that penetrated the country’s air defences.The Israeli military said Friday that “a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted” after air raid sirens sounded in several areas.As a result, a flight from Larnaca in Cyprus had to delay its landing at Ben Gurion, airport authorities said.“Everything is back to normal,” an airport spokeswoman told AFP.Yemen’s Huthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians, have launched repeated attacks on Israel and on Red Sea shipping since shortly after the October 2023 war began between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.Last Sunday’s missile struck in the area of the airport, gouging a large crater near the main terminal building and injuring several people.Israel retaliated by attacking the airport in Sanaa on Tuesday, and also hit three nearby power stations.The Israeli strikes, which disabled the airport, followed a US bombing campaign in response to Huthi threats to renew their attacks on shipping in the region.The United States and the Huthis reached a ceasefire agreement later on Tuesday, with mediator Oman announcing the deal to ensure “freedom of navigation” in the Red Sea.But the Huthis vowed to continue targeting Israel and Israeli ships in the key waterway, saying that their deal with Washington does not include Israel.
