Houthi Drone Breaches Israeli Defenses, Strikes Ramon Airport in Rare Hit
Israel's Iron Dome Was Penetrated by A Yemeni Houthi Rebel Drone Today
A drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels penetrated Israel’s advanced air defenses on Sunday, striking the passenger terminal at Ramon International Airport near Eilat, the Israeli military reported.
The attack, which blew out windows and sent smoke billowing, lightly injured a 63-year-old man with shrapnel and briefly shut down commercial airspace, diverting flights. The damage was limited, and flights resumed within hours. The Houthis claimed responsibility, hailing the strike as a “qualitative military operation” in solidarity with Palestinians, with spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree warning that Israeli airports “are unsafe.”
The Israeli Air Force intercepted three of four Houthi drones near the Egyptian border but failed to identify the fourth as hostile, resulting in no air raid sirens—a rare lapse in Israel’s multilayered defense system. An investigation is underway. The Houthis, emboldened after Israel’s strike in Sanaa killed their prime minister and cabinet members last week, have escalated attacks using cluster munitions, which scatter smaller explosives, challenging Israel’s defenses.
Also Read: Houthis Seize 19 UN Workers in Yemen Amid Escalating Tensions
The strike follows a pattern of Houthi aggression since the Gaza war began in October 2023, with prior hits including a May 2025 missile near Ben Gurion Airport.
Concurrently, Israel intensified its Gaza offensive, leveling a third high-rise in Gaza City, claiming it housed Hamas operations—a charge Hamas denies. The Gaza Health Ministry reports over 64,000 deaths since the conflict’s onset. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Israel accepted his ceasefire proposal, urging Hamas to comply, though Israel has not confirmed this.
Also Read: Houthi Drone Strikes Israel’s Ramon Airport, Halts Flights
