Israel: Houthi missile strikes near Ben Gurion Airport after failed interception; 6 injured

Image: Jihad Watch

A ballistic missile launched by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen struck the grounds of Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday morning, injuring six people, none seriously. The explosion occurred in a tree grove near an access road, not far from the airport’s main Terminal 3, several hundred yards from the control tower.

The military reported several unsuccessful attempts to intercept the missile, confirming an impact within the Ben Gurion Airport area.

This was the first instance of a Houthi missile hitting the airport grounds. A Hezbollah missile had previously struck a parking area near the airport's perimeter in November.

Defense sources indicated that both the Israeli Air Force’s long-range Arrow defense system and the U.S. THAAD system failed to intercept the Houthi missile. The Israeli Air Force's aerial defense team is investigating the failure.

The injured included a man in his 50s with limb injuries, in moderate condition, and two women, ages 54 and 38, in good condition, who were affected by the shockwave, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service. A 64-year-old man sustained light injuries after being struck by debris, and two other women, ages 22 and 34, were lightly injured while seeking shelter.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)