HOUTHI rebels have unleashed a terrifying ballistic missile on Israel’s busiest airport.

Israel pledged to retaliate against the devastating attack on Ben Gurion Airport as Defence Minister Israel Katz declared: “Anyone who strikes us, we will strike back seven times harder.”

Surveillance footage shows the moment the powerful weapon from the Iran-backed terror group hit the airport.

The missile blasted a grove near to an access road within the airport’s perimeter.

Chilling video captured the moment the ballistic missile soared through the sky before exploding as it hit the ground.

A huge blast erupts as plumes of black smoke billow into the air.

Terrified eyewitnesses even managed to film the eruption from their cars as they travelled past the airport this morning.

At least eight people have been injured, according to emergency officials.

One was left wounded by the flying debris after the blast as another was left hurt as she ran for an air raid shelter.

The Israeli Defence Forces confirmed it made several attempts to intercept the missile but failed to do so.

They are now investigating the incident.

Israel’s powerful Iron Dome is responsible for thwarting enemy missiles before they hit.

Operators nationwide are tirelessly working to defend against relentless attacks and the persistent threat of bombardment from Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

An IDF commander in Israel’s south revealed to The Sun last month that their success rate is as high as 96 percent, highlighting today’s failure as a significant setback for Tel Aviv.

And despite the security breach the airport has officially reopened just an hour after temporarily halting takeoffs and landings.

Israel Airport Authority announced in a statement: “Ben Gurion Airport is open for operations.

“Takeoffs and landings have returned to normal.”

The strike marks a major escalation between Israel and both the Houthis in Yemen and Iran.

And National Unity chairman Benny Gantz has even now said the attack must be blamed on Tehran.

The former defence minister said on X: “This is not Yemen, this is Iran. It is Iran that is firing ballistic missiles at the State of Israel, and it must bear responsibility.

“The Israeli government must wake up.”

Who are the Houthis?

THE Houthi rebels have spent months terrorising the Red Sea by launching persistent missile and drone attacks on vessels and warships – but who are they?

The Shia militant group, which now controls large swaths of Yemen, spent over a decade being largely ignored by the world.

However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, they sprung from relative obscurity to holding roughly £1trillion of world trade hostage – turning one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes into an active warzone.

Their warped battle cry is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.

Why are they attacking ships?

After the October 7 massacre, Houthis began launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships – including warships – they deem to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally, Hamas.

In reality, they targeted commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel – forcing global sea traffic to largely halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices around the world soaring.

The sea assaults added to the carnage in the Middle East tinderbox as intense ripples from Israel’s war in Gaza were felt across the region – with Iran accused of stoking the chaos.

The Houthi chiefs pledged their Red Sea attacks would continue until Israel stopped its offensive in Gaza.

The group’s chiefs have previously said their main targets are Israel, and its allies the US and Britain.

And despite repeated threats from the West and joint US and UK strikes blitzing their strongholds in Yemen – Iran’s terror proxy appears undeterred.

The UK and US have hit Houthi bases as recently as this month after the terror group once again targeted boats in the shipping lane.

Israel has also hammered the group with airstrikes, reportedly hitting oil storage tanks at the port in Al Hudaydah. 

The attack marks the fourth Houthi missile attack since Friday.

Israel has been at war with the Houthis ever since they vowed to eliminate fellow terror group Hamas following the October 7 massacre.

Both the Houthis and Hamas are proxies for the Iranian military with all three threatening to attack Israel for the past 18 months.

It comes as the UK joined US forces in launching a fresh strike on a Houthi target in Yemen earlier this week.

RAF Typhoon jets, backed by Voyager air-to-air refuelling tankers, hit several drone manufacturing buildings 15 miles south of the capital Sanaa.

Washington and London have kept a close eye on the terror group after they started to attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since October 7.

Both Western nations hit back with powerful strikes of their own to try and deter the Yemen-based terrorists.

But the fighting has continued on the Red Sea with President Donald Trump ramping up US attacks in recent months.

Trump has launched Operation Rough Rider against the Houthis which has seen more than 800 strikes since mid-March.

The attacks have wiped out dozens of terror targets, senior commanders and key infrastructure.

American forces are operating from two aircraft carriers in the region: the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea.