The Houthi rebel group in Yemen has escalated its threats against Israel by announcing an aerial blockade on Ben-Gurion Airport, urging international airlines to halt flights to Israel. The announcement, made on Saturday, follows a series of missile attacks on Israel and a growing campaign targeting Israeli interests in the region.
The group, which has been involved in Yemen’s ongoing civil war and is supported by Iran, issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), declaring that after successfully cutting off Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, it was now targeting Ben-Gurion Airport in “occupied Palestine.” The Houthis also warned major global airlines, including Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Air France, British Airways, United Airlines, and easyJet, that flights to Israel would be targeted for the “safety of everyone.”
In their statement, the Houthis emphasized that “Ben-Gurion Airport is no longer safe until the aggression on Gaza stops.” They urged airlines to take their military warning seriously, asserting that the ongoing conflict and the group’s military actions in the region had made the airport a prime target.
The threat comes after the Houthis fired multiple ballistic missiles toward Israel, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing regional conflict. On Friday, sirens rang out across Israel, from Jerusalem to the suburbs of Tel Aviv, as the Houthis launched another missile targeting Jerusalem. This was the third missile attack on the Israeli capital in two months, with the previous missile strikes also originating from Yemen.
In addition to these direct threats to Israel, the Houthis have also claimed responsibility for recent attacks on the U.S. military presence in the Red Sea, including the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. Although the group did not provide proof of these attacks, they alleged that the U.S. vessel was struck, and their spokesperson warned that similar actions could follow.
The U.S. military responded by sending a second aircraft carrier to the region. According to reports from the Associated Press and Politico, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the USS Carl Vinson, which had been stationed in the Pacific Ocean, would be redirected to the Middle East to support the USS Harry S. Truman. The decision to deploy a second carrier comes as tensions continue to rise in the region, particularly with the Houthis’ increasing threats and attacks.
The United States has also confirmed that the USS Harry S. Truman, which was originally scheduled to return to the U.S. at the end of March, will remain in the Middle East for at least another month. The U.S. military’s move to bolster its presence in the region highlights the growing concerns over security and stability in the Red Sea and beyond. The U.S. defense secretary also stated that the airstrikes against the Houthis and their allies were aimed at getting Iran’s attention and stopping the group’s attacks on American assets and allies in the region.
The Houthi group’s recent actions and threats are part of a broader campaign in Yemen, where the Houthis have been fighting against a coalition of forces, including Saudi Arabia, since 2015. The conflict has resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with thousands of deaths and widespread suffering across Yemen.
In recent months, the Houthis have expanded their military targets beyond Yemen, launching missile attacks on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and now Israel. The group’s alignment with Iran has drawn international attention, particularly as it challenges Israel’s security and increasingly confronts U.S. military forces in the region.
The situation has sparked fears of further escalation, especially with the Houthis’ threat to international airlines. If the blockade on Ben-Gurion Airport is enforced, it could disrupt air travel to Israel, affecting tourists, business travelers, and the larger international community.
The conflict in the region has also led to heightened tensions between Israel and its neighbors, particularly in the wake of ongoing violence in Gaza. Israel has been under pressure to address the growing concerns of civilian casualties in Gaza, while the Houthis have used the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict to justify their attacks.
The international community has expressed concern over the Houthis’ recent actions and their potential to destabilize the region further. Experts warn that the group’s growing influence, fueled by Iranian support, could create more challenges for peace in the Middle East.
For now, airlines are facing a tough decision about whether to comply with the Houthi group’s demands. Major carriers like Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Air France have yet to comment on the threats, but the possibility of grounding flights to Israel would have a significant economic impact, especially as the tourism and business sectors in Israel are important parts of the economy.
The United States and Israel have both vowed to continue countering the Houthi group’s actions, but the growing risk of conflict and the mounting number of missile strikes against Israeli targets suggest that this situation may only escalate further. As the Houthis continue to challenge Israel’s security and global airlines are warned of further threats, the international community remains on edge, waiting to see how the situation will unfold.
