[LAUREN KEENAN]
YEMEN’S HOUTHI MILITANT GROUP LAUNCHED A MISSILE THAT LANDED NEAR AN AIRPORT IN ISRAEL OVER THE WEEKEND-
PROMPTING GLOBAL CONCERN OVER AVIATION SAFETY IN THE REGION.
THE MISSILE LANDED NEAR ISRAEL’S BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON SUNDAY-
DISRUPTING AIR TRAFFIC AS FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS HAVE CONTINUED INTO MONDAY.
ACCORDING TO ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES, MILITARY PERSONNEL FAILED TO INTERCEPT THE PROJECTILE DUE TO A TECHNICAL MALFUNCTION IN ITS MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM.
THE HOUTHIS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT-
AND CALLED ON INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES TO HALT ALL FLIGHTS TO ISRAELI AIRPORTS-
WARNING THAT FAILURE TO DO SO COULD ENDANGER BOTH AIRCRAFT AND CREW.
ACCORDING TO THE IDF, THE HOUTHIS HAVE LAUNCHED DOZENS OF MISSILE ATTACKS AGAINST ISRAEL IN RECENT WEEKS-
AS THE IRANIAN-BACKED GROUP’S ACTIONS ARE INTENDED TO SUPPORT THE PALESTINIAN CAUSE AMID THE ONGOING WAR IN GAZA.
THE HOUTHIS HAVE ALSO STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO ENFORCE A NAVAL BLOCKADE IN THE RED SEA-
AND WARNED SHIPPING COMPANIES VESSELS THAT ARE LINKED TO U.S. ARMS MANUFACTURERS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO TARGETING.
IN RESPONSE TO THIS, THE U.S. HAS TARGETED AIRSTRIKES ON HOUTHI POSITIONS IN YEMEN AND WARNED IRAN AGAINST FURTHER SUPPORT FOR THE GROUP.
MEANWHILE, IRAN MAINTAINS THAT THE HOUTHIS ACT INDEPENDENTLY-
AND THE COUNTRY’S DEFENSE MINISTER HAS STATED ANY MILITARY ATTACK ON IRANIAN INTERESTS WILL BE MET WITH RETALIATION.
FOLLOWING THE ATTEMPTED STRIKE AT THE BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT-
ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU’S OFFICE SAID IN A POST ON X THAT QUOTE “THE WHOLE WORLD IS BEING CHALLENGED BY THE HOUTHIS”-
AND THAT HIS COUNTRY WILL “TAKE VERY STRONG ACTION AGAINST THEM.”
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN KEENAN.
