Netanyahu: Response To Iran-Backed Houthi Attack Will Come With ‘Many Bangs’

Following a missile strike by Yemeni Houthi militants close to Israel's primary international gateway, Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to react. Numerous major international airlines, including Lufthansa, Air India, Delta, ITA Airways, and Air France, have been forced to halt flights to and from Tel Aviv for the next few days due to the attack, which left a huge crater near the parking lot of Terminal 3. Netanyahu, in a video posted on Telegram, declared, "We have acted against them in the past and we will act in the future, but I cannot go into detail... it will not happen in one bang, but there will be many bangs."

According to 'THE WEEK' Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokeswoman, took credit for the assault and issued a warning that "Israel's main airport was no longer safe for air travel." In light of the current conflict in Gaza, the missile strike is the most recent in an increasing number of Houthi attacks in support of Palestinians. Since the Gaza conflict resurfaced in 2023, the Iranian-aligned group has intensified its offensive attacks against Israel and international ships in the Red Sea.

In a sharp escalation of rhetoric and military posturing, both U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have issued grave warnings to Iran and its allied Houthi militants following the strike. President Trump, in a strongly worded statement on March 17, directly blamed Iran for orchestrating the attacks, calling the Houthis "sinister mobsters and thugs" under Tehran's command.

Trump made clear that any future Houthi aggression would be treated as Iranian aggression, stating, "Every shot fired by the Houthis will be looked upon... as being a shot fired from the weapons and leadership of IRAN, and IRAN will be held responsible." Netanyahu echoed Trump's sentiments, declaring, "President Trump is absolutely right! Attacks by the Houthis emanate from Iran," and vowed a retaliatory response "at a time and place of our choosing" targeting both the Houthis and "their Iranian terror masters."

"You can see the scene right behind us here, a hole that opened up with a diameter of tens of meters and also tens of meters deep," Israeli police commander Yair Hetzroni said after Israeli police confirmed the missile had left a deep and wide crater close to the airport. Netanyahu has called emergency talks with senior defence and security officials to finalise plans for a retaliation operation in response to this most recent incident.

Most Yemeni threats have been thwarted by Israel's sophisticated missile defence systems in recent months, but last year a drone strike got past the defences and struck Tel Aviv.

After a two-month ceasefire in March failed, Israeli ministers were reportedly on the verge of authorising increased military operations in Gaza when the escalation occurred. Since then, peace negotiations have stalled, and violence has increased on several fronts.

In the meantime, President Trump has ordered the United States to conduct massive strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in order to safeguard maritime lanes in the Red Sea. According to reports, the strikes have caused a large number of Houthi casualties. With Yemen emerging as a crucial front in the larger U.S.-Iran and Israel-Iran power struggle, these actions highlight Washington's growing assertiveness towards Iran's proxy network.

As the rhetoric and military preparations intensify, analysts warn of a potential regional conflagration. Iran, while denying direct control of the Houthis, continues to be accused by both the U.S. and Israel of providing the group with weapons, funds, and intelligence support. Diplomatic channels remain open, with emergency sessions underway at the United Nations, but with little sign of de-escalation, the risk of a wider Middle Eastern war looms large.