Israel Airport Reopens After Houthi Drone Attack

Houthi Rebels Launch Drone Attack on Israeli Airport

A drone attack by Houthi rebels in Yemen targeted Israel's Ramon Airport on Sunday, causing temporary disruption but limited damage. Flights were halted for a short period, but the airport was able to resume operations within hours, according to reports.

The Israeli national emergency service stated that two individuals sustained injuries from shrapnel. This incident follows a series of Israeli strikes on Yemen in August, which resulted in the death of Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahwai and other officials. The Houthis have been launching missiles into Israel since October 2023, following the Hamas attack on southern Israel, which led to the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Since then, over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military, and hundreds have died due to a famine caused by restrictions on aid entering Gaza.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree confirmed the attack in a statement, saying it was part of a broader drone operation targeting various sites in southern Israel. According to Al-Jazeera, Saree claimed the drone directly hit Ramon Airport, causing it to shut down and halt air traffic.

Although the airport was closed for about two hours while Israeli military officials investigated, it was able to resume operations later on Sunday. The Israel Airports Authority released a statement saying that after completing all safety and security checks and receiving final approval from the Air Force, the airport had reopened for full operations, both for departures and arrivals.

Israel's military reported that it successfully intercepted three Houthi attack drones near the Egyptian border. However, they are investigating why air raid sirens at Ramon Airport did not activate for the fourth drone.

Destruction of High-Rise Buildings in Gaza City

Over the past three days, Israeli forces have destroyed three high-rise buildings in Gaza City. On Sunday, the military announced that it had leveled Al-Ra'iya Tower, a seven-story building. On Friday, an Israeli missile strike destroyed the Mushtaha Tower, and on Saturday, Defense Minister Israel Katz shared a video showing the collapse of the Sousi Tower with the caption "We continue."

IDF officials have claimed, without providing evidence, that these buildings are being used by Hamas, a claim denied by the group. NBC News reported that the management of Mushtaha Tower said displaced people had been living there. An Israeli spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, ordered evacuations of Al-Ra'iya, and residents of the areas affected by the collapses were instructed to leave. However, Palestinians have expressed that they are too injured and exhausted to move again, as many have been displaced multiple times.

Additionally, the locations where they are being told to go lack basic infrastructure and supplies, and the United Nations has reported that people are still being killed in those areas. Shireen Al-Lada, whose home in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City was destroyed, told the Associated Press, "Every time we move to a place, we get displaced from it."

Attacks on Hospitals and Refugee Camps

Officials at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City reported that Israeli strikes on a school converted into a shelter killed at least 13 Palestinians, including three children. Al-Awda Hospital in central Gaza received five dead bodies, including a young girl, following an Israeli strike on a U.N.-administered refugee camp.

These incidents highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where civilian casualties continue to rise amid the conflict. The destruction of infrastructure, displacement of populations, and lack of access to essential resources have exacerbated the suffering of the local population.