On May 13, 2025, Yemen's Ansar Allah (Houthis) launched a ballistic missile attack on Israel, timing the attack to coincide with US President Donald Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV channel reported, adding that the goal was "to support the Palestinian people" amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. The attack, which took place during Trump's speech in Riyadh, underscores tensions in the region and complicates US diplomatic efforts to stabilize the Middle East.

According to the Israeli army (IDF), the missile was intercepted over the central part of the country by air defense systems including the Hetz and the American THAAD, which prevented casualties and destruction. However, as Reuters reports, the attack caused the temporary closure of airspace over Tel Aviv, and Ben Gurion Airport was suspended for an hour. Houthi spokesman Yahya Sari said in a televised address that the group used a new type of ballistic missile capable of penetrating Israeli defenses, and promised to continue strikes until the "aggression against Gaza" ends.

The attack was part of a series of Houthi rocket attacks on Israel that began after the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023. According to the BBC, the Houthis had previously attacked Ben Gurion Airport on May 4, 2025, causing minimal damage but causing panic among the population. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Iran-backed Houthis have ballistic missiles with a range of up to 2000 km, including Iranian Khaybar Shekan models, which they call “hypersonic.” In retaliation, Israel struck the Yemeni ports of Hudeida and Salif, as well as Sana’a airport, on May 6, destroying key facilities used to ship weapons from Iran and killing nine people, according to Al-Masirah.

Trump's visit to Riyadh, where he signed a $142 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, was aimed at strengthening the US-Saudi alliance and countering Iran. According to Al Jazeera, Trump called for "decisive action" against the Houthis, accusing them of destabilizing the region.