Houthis Renew Threat to Attack Ben Gurion Airport

Monday, 19 May 2025 | The Houthi rebels in Yemen on Monday issued a warning to Israel: evacuate Ben Gurion International Airport ahead of a missile attack. It was the second such warning in less than 24 hours and included an image marking the area of the airport. 

On Sunday, the Houthis published similar threats against Ben Gurion Airport, mimicking the style of IDF Arabic spokesman Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee, who in recent days has issued evacuation warnings for areas near Yemen’s ports. 

Since the start of the war, Adraee has become the face of Israel across the Middle East—more recently, also in Yemen. Following his initial warnings to evacuate ports under Houthi control, which were seen as unusual at the time, Iran-backed rebels in Yemen now appear to be “doing an Adraee” of their own. 

Shortly after Israel launched its ground operation in Gaza, the Houthis issued their first direct threat: “We will strike Ben Gurion Airport in the coming hours. Evacuate immediately.” 

Alongside a photo of Ben Gurion Airport, senior Houthi official Nasruddin Amer posted on X: “In the coming hours, Yemeni forces will carry out military operations against Ben Gurion and other Zionist airports.” 

Adraee’s messages are typically addressed to residents of areas targeted by the IDF. He often explains that terrorist groups are operating from those sites, urges civilians to evacuate and stresses that remaining at the locations puts their lives at risk. Following a series of such Arabic-language warnings to Yemenis—some preceding actual strikes and others not—the Houthis now appear to be adopting the same tactic. 

In a previous post, Amer claimed the strikes on Israel were a response to “the recent escalation against the Gaza Strip and attacks on Yemen,” and part of a broader Yemeni decision to impose an air blockade on Ben Gurion Airport and other airfields. He also cited the naval blockade and closure of Eilat Port, which the Houthis say will remain in place until Israel ends its military campaign in Gaza and lifts the blockade. 

Amer urged remaining airlines operating out of Ben Gurion to “leave immediately,” warning that “all those present, especially foreigners, should leave for their own safety.” 

Amid a wave of flight cancellations to Israel, a senior Houthi source issued another warning to foreign carriers considering a return to Ben Gurion: “They should change course and take seriously the warnings of the Yemeni military, which is determined to establish a no-fly zone not only over Ben Gurion Airport but over all of Israeli airspace,” he told Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen. 

Overnight Sunday, the Houthis launched a missile toward central Israel. It was intercepted in midair, but sirens sounded from the Shfela region to Netanya, prompting delays in departures and arrivals at Ben Gurion Airport. In recent weeks, following a Houthi missile strike near the airport, the IDF has conducted three retaliatory strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. 

Meanwhile, Iran-backed proxies continue to fire rockets and missiles at Israel weekly, forcing millions of Israelis to seek shelter on a regular basis.