(MENAFN) Yemen's Houthi armed group claimed responsibility for a "hypersonic ballistic missile" attack on Israel's Ben Gurion Airport Thursday, a bold escalation in the ongoing regional conflict.

In a statement broadcast by local TV, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea confirmed the assault, calling it a qualitative military operation aimed directly at the airport. "The Yemeni armed forces (Houthi armed forces) carried out a qualitative military operation targeting Ben Gurion Airport, using a hypersonic ballistic missile," Sarea said.

Sarea described the mission as a success, stating it caused millions of Israelis to seek shelter and disrupted airport operations. "The operation successfully achieved its goal ... and forced millions of Israelis to flee to shelters, as well as halting the airport operations," he said.

The Houthi spokesperson framed the attack as part of a broader response to what he described as genocide and starvation in Gaza, asserting it as "a victory for the oppressed Palestinian people." The attack is "a victory for the oppressed Palestinian people and a response to the crimes of genocide and starvation committed by the enemy in the Gaza Strip," he stated.

However, Israel's Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the missile, which had been fired from Yemen, was intercepted by the country's aerial defense systems before it could reach its target.

Earlier, the Israeli Defense Forces reported detecting a missile launched from Yemen toward Israel, which was successfully intercepted by the country's aerial defense systems.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have increased their strikes on Israeli targets, framing their actions as expressions of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The group controls large portions of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

The situation remains tense as the conflict shows no signs of de-escalation.

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