In a rare escalation of Yemen’s conflict spilling into Israeli territory, a Houthi-launched drone struck the arrivals hall at Ramon Airport near Eilat on Sunday. The attack forced a brief shutdown of flights, causing light injuries to two civilians before operations resumed after safety inspections.

Attack Timeline and Immediate Aftermath

The Israeli Airports Authority confirmed that takeoffs and landings were paused for around two hours. Following successful safety and security evaluations—including Air Force approval—the airport reopened, with domestic carriers Israir and Arkia preparing to resume their schedules.

Emergency services confirmed two mild injuries: shrapnel wounds to a 63-year-old man and panic-related injuries to a 52-year-old woman.

Houthis Escalate Strikes After Israel’s Air Campaign in Yemen

The attack appears to be a direct response to Israel’s intensified air campaign in Yemen, which included the elimination of high-ranking Houthi officials. This marks one of the first successful drone attacks targeting Israel since the August strikes.

The Houthi movement—backed by Iran—has continued firing missiles and drones toward Israel in solidarity with Palestinians, targeting both Israeli territory and Red Sea maritime routes.

Broader Implications

While most Houthi-launched drones are intercepted, this strike underscores the growing sophistication of their capabilities—and exposes vulnerabilities in Israel’s multi-layered air defenses.

A previous successful strike occurred in May when a Houthi missile landed near Ben Gurion Airport, injuring eight and prompting widespread flight cancellations.

The latest attack at Ramon Airport highlights the expanding reach of aerial threats as regional tensions escalate—threatening civilian infrastructure and commercial aviation alike.