Sanaa: Yemen's Houthi group has claimed responsibility for firing a hypersonic ballistic missile at Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel, marking a dramatic escalation in its ongoing attacks in solidarity with Gaza. The missile, according to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea, was part of a broader campaign to pressure Israel into ending its military offensive in Gaza and lifting the blockade.

“Our operations will persist until the aggression on Gaza ends,” Sarea said on Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV, adding that the group aims to prevent Israeli air traffic at Ben Gurion Airport.

The Israeli military confirmed a missile had been launched from Yemen late Thursday night and was intercepted by the country’s air defense systems. No casualties were reported, though air raid sirens were triggered in over 660 cities and communities across central Israel, including Tel Aviv and the occupied West Bank.

One of the alerts sounded at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, where 30,000 spectators were watching the State Cup football final. Despite the panic, emergency services confirmed there were no injuries.

The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have previously declared they would cease attacks on US interests but maintain strikes on Israel in response to the Gaza conflict, where over 54,000 Palestinians have been reported killed since the start of the Israeli offensive 19 months ago.

In response, Israel has conducted multiple airstrikes in Yemen, including a May attack on Sanaa that damaged the city’s international airport and destroyed the last operational passenger aircraft.

The Houthis have been launching missiles toward Israel since November 2023, positioning themselves as defenders of Palestinian civilians amid Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas.