Front view of the Ramon international Airport, located in the north of the southern Israeli Red Sea resort city of Eilat, inaugurated on January 21, 2019. MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images
No sirens were activated during the attack, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, adding that the incident remained under investigation.
It is highly unusual for Israel’s early warning system to fail, as the country operates a layered defense against drones and missiles.
Israel Defense Forces confirm drone strike at Ramon Airport
The Israeli Air Force reported that an initial assessment indicated the drone was detected but misclassified, allowing it to pass through defenses.
“There is no indication of a technical malfunction in the existing detection systems,” the military said in a statement.
Officials said several other drones launched on the same day were intercepted before reaching Israeli territory.
Authorities investigate Ramon Airport airspace closure
The Israel Airports Authority confirmed southern airspace over Ramon Airport was closed for about ninety minutes following the strike.
Ramon Airport, near the Red Sea city of Eilat, serves as one of Israel’s international gateways for tourism and commercial flights.
Videos posted online showed shattered glass and damaged infrastructure in the arrivals hall after the impact.
Emergency services respond to Ramon Airport drone incident
Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency response service, reported receiving alerts at 2:35 p.m. local time about the incident at the airport.
Two individuals sustained minor injuries from the explosion and falling glass, emergency officials said.
Houthi rebels issue statement after Ramon Airport drone strike
The Houthi-controlled Yemeni Armed Forces claimed responsibility and declared airports inside Israel “are not safe and will be continuously targeted.”
The statement added that the drone “directly hit the airport and caused the airport to shut down, halting air traffic.”
The Houthis have previously targeted Israel with missiles and drones in what they describe as support for Palestinians in Gaza.
Houthi drone campaign escalates against Israel
The group has also attacked shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, both vital for global trade.
In May, a Houthi ballistic missile struck Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv after penetrating Israeli defenses.
The attack temporarily halted flights and raised concerns about Israel’s long-range defense capabilities.
Israel’s Arrow defense system had failed to intercept the projectile, marking a rare breach of national air defenses.
Israel escalates military response against Houthis in Yemen
After a Houthi missile with a cluster warhead struck Israel in August, Israeli forces launched airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sana’a.
An Israeli official said the operation killed senior Houthi leaders, including the prime minister, foreign minister, and other officials.
“If they are not dead, we will continue to hunt them down,” the Israeli security source told reporters.
Israel has repeatedly targeted Houthi infrastructure and military bases, linking the group’s activity to Iranian support networks.
Global concern over Ramon Airport attack
The attack highlights the widening scope of the conflict, extending from Gaza into Yemen and threatening international travel routes.
Related: Iran Appoints Ali Abdollahi Ali-Abadi as New Khatam al-Anbia Commander
Ramon Airport, inaugurated in 2019, is vital for Israel’s tourism economy and serves as a civilian alternative to Ben Gurion Airport.
