US strikes Yemen after Houthi missile attack on Israel’s Ben-Gurion airport

May 5, 2025

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US strikes Yemen after Houthi missile attack on Israel’s Ben-Gurion airport

The United States has reportedly launched a new round of airstrikes in Yemen following the Iran-backed Houthi rebels claiming responsibility for a missile that landed near Israel’s main airport on Sunday. The Houthi-controlled state news agency in Yemen reported that “American aggression” was behind several strikes on the capital, Sanaa, on Monday, resulting in at least 16 people being wounded, according to New Arab.

A U.S. Defense official told Fox News Digital on Monday that since March 15, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) has been conducting an intense and sustained campaign targeting the Houthi terrorist organization in Yemen to restore freedom of navigation and American deterrence. The official stated, “We will continue to increase the pressure and further disintegrate Houthi capabilities as long as they continue to impede freedom of navigation.”

Earlier on Monday, the Houthis in Yemen vowed to continue their attacks on Israeli airports after the missile briefly disrupted flights and commuter traffic at Israel’s main international airport near Tel Aviv. The Houthis issued a warning to airlines that they would carry out “repeated targeting” of Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main gateway to the world. The Houthis also threatened to implement “a comprehensive aerial blockade” on Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Cabinet was set to vote to expand fighting in Gaza.

Netanyahu stated that the U.S. was supporting Israeli operations against the Houthis and added that Israel would respond to the Houthis and their “Iranian terror masters” at a time and place of their choosing. The U.S. military, under President Donald Trump, has been carrying out an intensified campaign of daily airstrikes targeting the Houthis since March 15.

See also Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s tough Bronx persona is under fresh scrutiny with a resurfaced childhood nickname from her suburban upstate New York upbringing casting doubt on that publicly portrayed image. The progressive champion’s latest spat with President Donald Trump over the Iran strikes again called into question her true upbringing when she declared on X she was a “Bronx girl" to make her a point against the president. The 35-year-old congresswoman wrote in part on X: "I’m a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully," she said, referring to the president’s upbringing in Queens as she called for his impeachment over his decision to bypass Congress in authorizing U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Ocasio-Cortez was born in the Bronx but moved to Yorktown – which is nearly an hour outside New York City -- when she was 5 years old and went on to attend Yorktown High School where she graduated in 2007. She was considered an accomplished student there and well thought of by teacher Michael Blueglass, according to a 2018 report by local media outlet Halston Media News. “There, known by students and staff as ‘Sandy,’ she was a member of the Science Research Program taught by Michael Blueglass," the report states. “She was amazing," Blueglass said, per the report. “Aside from her winning one of the top spots and going to the [Intel International Science and Engineering Fair], she was just one of the most amazing presenters in all of the years I've been at Yorktown. Her ability to take complex information and explain it to all different levels of people was fantastic." After high school, Ocasio-Cortez attended Boston University, where she majored in economics and international relations, per the report. Ocasio-Cortez’s “Sandy" nickname — which carries a more suburban and preppy tone — appears to undercut her politically crafted image as a tough, inner-city fighter, one she has portrayed since her famous 2018 congressional campaign where she eventually ousted former 10-terms Congressman Joe Crowley. New York GOP Assemblyman Matt Slater, who now represents Yorktown, added to the scrutiny of Ocasio-Cortez’s persona in the wake of her brash with Trump and released images of Ocasio-Cortez from his high school yearbook. He claimed he and the rising Democratic star attended Yorktown High School at the same time when she was a freshman and he was a senior. "I saw the attacks on the president and her [Ocasio-Cortez] claims that she's a big, tough Bronx girl," said Slater. "To sit there and say that she’s a Bronx girl is just patently ridiculous." "Everybody in our community knows this is just a bold-face lie," said Slater on "Fox & Friends First" last week. "She grew up in Yorktown, she was on my track team." "She's lying about her background, she's lying about her upbringing," Slater claimed. Slater’s post sent social media ablaze and prompted Ocasio-Cortez to respond after an image if her family’s home was posted online. “I’m proud of how I grew up and talk about it all the time," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X Friday responding to the post. “My mom cleaned houses and I helped. We cleaned tutors’ homes in exchange for SAT prep." “Growing up between the Bronx and Yorktown deeply shaped my views of inequality & it’s a big reason I believe the things I do today!"

USCENTCOM has reported that their forces have destroyed multiple command-and-control facilities, air defense systems, advanced weapons manufacturing facilities, and advanced weapons storage locations of the Houthis. The strikes have significantly reduced ballistic missile launches by 69% and attacks from one-way attack drones by 55%. Additionally, U.S. strikes have impacted the Houthi ability to conduct operations and generate revenue for their activities.

The Houthis have been firing missiles at Israel since the beginning of the war against Hamas in Gaza in October 2023, making them the last member of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” capable of launching regular attacks on Israel. While most of their missiles have been intercepted, some have managed to penetrate Israel’s missile defense systems, causing damage.

The Israeli military reported that Sunday was the first time a missile struck the airport grounds since the Israel-Hamas war began and attributed the incident to a technical issue with the interceptor. Four people were lightly wounded in the blast, while two others were reportedly injured while seeking shelter.

Multiple international airlines canceled or postponed flights following the missile strike near Ben Gurion Airport. The ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon has led to a suspension of flights to Israel by several airlines, although many have resumed operations in recent months.

In conclusion, the situation in Yemen and its impact on Israel continues to escalate, with the U.S. and Israel taking decisive action against the Houthi rebels. The conflict underscores the complex geopolitics of the region and the ongoing threats faced by Israel from various adversaries.

See also Netanyahu condemns Hamas' 'repeated violations' against hostages, postpones exchange