The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced today that they intercepted three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Yemen. Two were shot down outside Israeli airspace, but the location of the third drone was not disclosed.

The Israeli military later admitted a fourth drone "fell in the area of Ramon Airport". They added that no alarms were triggered and authorities are investigating why. Ramon Airport management reported the drone crashed into the arrivals hall, forcing them to close the facility for about two hours.

Magen David Adom, Israel's national emergency response organization, reported a 62-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman suffered minor injuries from debris.

Hizam al-Assad, a political official of the Houthi armed group in Yemen, later declared, "The revenge operation hasn't even begun; what awaits Israel will be much worse".

The Houthis previously vowed to retaliate for an Israeli airstrike on 28/8 that killed the head of their executive branch and several high-ranking political officials.

This is the first time in four months the Houthis have hit a strategic target in Israel. In May, one of their ballistic missiles struck Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.

Location of Ramon Airport. Graphic: CNN

Since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in the Gaza Strip in 10/2023, the Houthis have launched numerous missiles and suicide drones at Israel in solidarity with Hamas.

Most Houthi attacks have been intercepted. Israel has also conducted retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen and recently increased intelligence gathering to eliminate senior Houthi officials.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, Times of Israel)