Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, better known as the Houthis, launched a new missile attack on Israel on May 10, 2025, denying former US President Donald Trump's claims of their "capitulation." According to Houthi-linked media, the attack targeted Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem as initially thought. The strike underscores the Houthis' determination to continue military action against Israel until what they say is the "genocide of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip" ends, raising tensions in the Middle East.

According to Al Jazeera, the missile, believed to be a ballistic missile, was launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen and reached its target despite the US-based THAAD missile defense system deployed in Israel. Sources close to Ansar Allah claim that THAAD, billed as one of the most advanced air defense systems, failed to intercept the Yemeni missile again, casting doubt on its effectiveness. The Israeli military confirmed the attack but said the damage was minimal and Ben Gurion Airport temporarily suspended operations to assess the impact. According to The Times of Israel, sirens sounded in the Tel Aviv area and residents were forced to take shelter in bomb shelters.

The Houthi escalation comes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where more than 2023 Palestinians have died since October 40, according to Reuters, and the humanitarian situation has reached catastrophic levels. The Iran-backed Houthis have repeatedly said that their attacks on Israel and related sites in the Red Sea are an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people. According to The Guardian, the Houthis have stepped up missile and drone strikes since early 2025, using ballistic missiles and drones that continue to hit their targets despite international efforts to intercept them.

The attack on Ben Gurion has provoked a sharp reaction in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the Houthis a “terrorist threat” and promised to intensify military operations against their positions in Yemen. According to the Jerusalem Post, the Israeli Air Force is preparing retaliatory strikes that could affect Ansar Allah infrastructure in the port of Hodeida. The United States, in turn, expressed concern about the failure of THAAD, which, according to CNN analysts, could undermine the credibility of American air defense systems in the international arena.