U.S. Strikes Yemen as Houthis Target Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, Vow Aerial Blockade

The U.S. has unleashed a fresh barrage of airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels following their audacious missile strike near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday. The Iran-backed group, defiant as ever, claimed responsibility for the attack that briefly disrupted flights and rattled Tel Aviv’s main gateway. Sixteen were wounded in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital, as U.S. forces targeted Houthi strongholds Monday, escalating a campaign that’s been relentless since March 15.

The Houthis, undeterred, doubled down with a chilling promise: a comprehensive aerial blockade on Israel. Their threats come as Israel’s Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, gears up for expanded military operations in Gaza. The rebels warned airlines of repeated targeting of Ben Gurion, signaling a broader strategy to choke Israel’s air links. Netanyahu, in response, vowed retaliation not just against the Houthis but their Iranian backers, hinting at strikes at a time and place of our choosing.

U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) has been surgical, obliterating Houthi command centers, air defenses, and weapons facilities. Their strikes have slashed Houthi ballistic missile launches by 69% and drone attacks by 55%, while crippling the strategic Ras Isa Port, a key revenue source for the group’s terror operations. Yet, the Houthis persist, fueled by Iran’s shadowy support, as part of the so-called Axis of Resistance targeting Israel since the Gaza war erupted on October 7, 2023.

Sunday’s missile strike was a rare breach of Israel’s vaunted defenses, with initial reports suggesting a technical glitch in the interceptor system. Four people sustained light injuries from the blast, and two others were hurt rushing to shelters. The attack’s ripple effects were immediate—multiple airlines canceled or delayed flights, a stark reminder of the region’s volatility.

As the U.S. and Israel tighten the screws, the Houthis’ defiance lays bare a deeper truth: this isn’t just about missiles or airports. It’s a proxy war, with Iran pulling strings and global navigation hanging in the balance. The Red Sea, once a bustling trade route, remains a battleground, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.