A drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi militant group struck near Israel’s Ramon International Airport in Eilat on Sunday, forcing the closure of the airspace and halting all flights, the Israeli military reported. The attack, part of a barrage of multiple drones from Yemen, saw some intercepted outside Israeli territory, but at least one evaded defenses, causing minor damage and lightly injuring one person with shrapnel, according to Magen David Adom, Israel’s rescue service.

The strike marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Houthis, who have intensified attacks since an Israeli airstrike on Sanaa, Yemen’s rebel-held capital, two weeks ago killed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and several cabinet members—the most senior Houthi officials targeted in the joint Israeli-US campaign. Since that strike, the Houthis have launched near-daily projectiles, including cluster bombs, toward Israel, though most have been intercepted or caused minimal damage.

This incident follows a pattern of Houthi aggression, with a May 2025 missile attack near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport injuring four and disrupting international flights for months. In retaliation, Israel destroyed Sanaa’s main airport, crippling Yemen’s civilian air travel. The Houthis, undeterred, have vowed to continue targeting Israel in solidarity with Palestinians, citing Israel’s military actions in Gaza as justification. The group’s use of advanced drones, some reportedly Iranian-made, has raised concerns about their growing capability to strike distant targets.

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Israel’s military is investigating the breach in its air defenses, with officials suggesting human error may have allowed the drone to reach Eilat. The attack underscores the volatile regional dynamics, with the Houthis leveraging Yemen’s strategic position to challenge Israel and its allies. As tensions simmer, Israel is weighing further retaliatory measures, while the international community watches closely amid fears of broader escalation.

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