A drone launched from Yemen by the Houthi movement struck southern Israel on Sunday, hitting Ramon International Airport near the Red Sea city of Eilat and prompting a temporary shutdown of regional airspace.
The Israeli military reported that several drones were fired toward its territory. Defense systems intercepted some of the projectiles, but at least one penetrated the defenses and struck the airport’s passenger hall. Authorities confirmed that one person sustained light injuries from shrapnel.
The Houthis later issued a statement claiming responsibility for what they described as a “qualitative military operation,” adding that “enemy airports are unsafe.” The group has previously targeted infrastructure in the region, framing such attacks as retaliation for Israeli military operations.
The latest strike follows an Israeli air raid in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, several weeks ago, in which Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi was killed. Since that incident, the Houthis have escalated their campaign, launching drones, missiles, and, more recently, cluster munitions, posing greater challenges to Israeli defense systems.
Ramon International Airport, which opened in 2019 as Israel’s secondary aviation hub, plays a strategic role in connecting southern Israel to domestic and regional destinations. While smaller than Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, its temporary closure underscores the growing risks to air travel and civilian infrastructure as the conflict widens across the region.
