The airstrikes launched by Israel on May 4, 2025, constitute a direct military response to a ballistic missile attack carried out the previous day by the Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) based in Yemen. The Israeli operations targeted various locations across Yemen, including industrial installations, port infrastructure, and populated urban areas. The strikes reportedly resulted in civilian casualties of varying severity, as well as substantial structural damage.
Israeli Airstrikes On Yemen, 6 May 2025 - Forbes Breaking News
The Missile Attack on Ben Gurion International Airport
On May 4, 2025, Houthi forces in Yemen launched a hypersonic ballistic missile aimed at Ben Gurion International Airport, located near Tel Aviv, Israel’s main urban center. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), one of the projectiles struck the airport complex, creating a crater measuring approximately 15 meters in diameter.
In the aftermath of the strike, the airport was temporarily closed to all air traffic. Medical authorities confirmed that four individuals sustained minor to moderate injuries. The Houthi movement claimed responsibility for the operation, stating that it was a deliberate and targeted act carried out in retaliation for Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
According to sources affiliated with the Houthis, the attack caused widespread alarm throughout the region, prompting an estimated three million residents in central Israel to take shelter in secure locations.
Suspension of International Flights
In the immediate aftermath of the missile strike on Ben Gurion International Airport, several international airlines cancelled scheduled flights to Israel. Among the carriers that halted operations on May 4, 2025, were Air Europa, Swiss International Air Lines, Lufthansa, ITA Airways, and Brussels Airlines. The low-cost carrier Wizz Air suspended its flights to Israel until the morning of May 6. Air France cancelled one of its flights, while a Transavia aircraft en route to Tel Aviv was rerouted to Greece. Additionally, an Air India flight originating from New Delhi reversed course over Jordanian airspace and returned to India.
Israel’s Retaliatory Airstrikes
On May 5, 2025, the Israeli Air Force initiated a series of aerial operations targeting multiple sites across Yemen in response to the Houthi missile attack. According to Israeli sources, the United States was notified prior to the launch of the strikes. Channel 12 News reported that Israeli fighter jets dropped approximately 48 bombs on more than ten separate targets in Yemen.
The port of Hodeidah and its surrounding industrial infrastructure formed the focal point of the operation. Reports indicated that Israeli warplanes struck cement factories located in the Bacil district. Hodeidah Port, which had been targeted in previous attacks, was once again severely damaged. According to official Israeli statements, the operation aimed to degrade infrastructure linked to the Houthi military apparatus.
Statements from the Houthis
Al Masirah TV, a media outlet affiliated with the Houthi movement, reported that Hodeidah Port was struck by six separate air raids conducted jointly by Israeli and U.S. forces. The Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health announced that one person was killed and four others injured in the attacks on the port. In a separate statement, it was reported that strikes on the Bacil Cement Factory resulted in three fatalities and 35 injuries.
Threats Against Sana’a International Airport
On May 6, 2025, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee announced that Sana’a International Airport had been designated a “red zone” and called for the immediate evacuation of the area. Later that day, the Israeli Air Force conducted a series of air raids targeting various infrastructure sites in and around the Yemeni capital, including the airport itself.
According to sources affiliated with the Houthi movement, the airstrikes struck multiple key installations: the Atan district in central Sana’a, the Hezyaz Central Power Plant in the Sanhan district, the Zehban Power Station in Bani Harith, and a cement factory located in the Amran Governorate. The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the strikes in an official written statement. Israeli media reports indicated that a total of ten targets in the Sana’a region were hit.
Ongoing Military Escalation and Official Statements
Israeli state broadcaster KAN, citing defense sources, reported that the government in Tel Aviv was determined to deliver a forceful response to the missile attack by the Houthis. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency security meeting that afternoon with select ministers and senior defense officials.
Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated that Israel would maintain military deterrence against further threats originating from Yemen. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that, since the ceasefire in Gaza ended on March 18, 2025, a total of 20 ballistic missiles launched from Yemen had been intercepted by the country’s air defense systems.
Deactivation of Sana’a International Airport
On May 7, 2025, all flight operations at Sana’a International Airport, located in the Yemeni capital, were suspended until further notice. According to statements made by Airport Director Khaled al-Shayef to the Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah television network, the airport was bombarded by Israeli forces using two types of high-explosive missiles, with four of those directly striking the runways.
The attack inflicted severe damage on airport infrastructure. The main runways sustained extensive destruction, rendering them inoperable. Passenger terminals and their interior fittings were reportedly devastated, while the primary logistics facility was entirely demolished. Preliminary estimates placed the financial cost of the damages at approximately $500 million.
Additionally, three passenger aircraft operated by Yemen Airways were destroyed as a result of the strikes. Reports stated that only one aircraft remains in the airline's fleet, currently located in Amman, the capital of Jordan. Fires that broke out at the airport were subsequently brought under control and extinguished by emergency response teams. Officials indicated that temporary arrangements were being planned to ensure the airport’s continued limited operations under alternative configurations.
