Tel Aviv: A drone launched from Yemen by the Houthi militant group exploded inside the passenger hall of Ramon International Airport in southern Israel on Sunday, September 7, injuring one person and causing panic among travellers.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency rescue service said it treated a 63-year-old man for light shrapnel wounds. The damage to Ramon Airport appeared limited and within a couple of hours it reopened as normal flights resumed.
In a post on X, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said no sirens were sounded before the strike and confirmed that the incident remains under investigation.
Footage shared on social media showed smoke rising near the terminal moments after the blast, while additional video revealed shattered glass, broken windows and debris scattered across the airport hall.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli military announced it had intercepted three other drones originating from Yemen. This latest incident marks a significant escalation in aerial threats targeting Israeli territory.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the strike.
“Enemy airports are unsafe, and foreigners must leave them for their own safety,” Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, wrote on social media. “Other sensitive targets are under fire.”
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have intensified missile and drone launches toward Israel in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
With inputs from Associated Press
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include the Houthis’ claim.
