Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
A ballistic missile launched from Yemen toward Israel on Friday, August 22, triggered widespread alarm across central Israel, temporarily shuts down Ben Gurion International Airport, and reignited concerns over the country’s expanding vulnerability to regional threats. While the missile was ultimately intercepted and disintegrated mid-air, the incident underscored Israel’s growing exposure to attacks beyond its northern and southern borders.
The Israeli military confirmed that its air defense systems responded to the incoming threat with multiple interception attempts. Though the projectile was said to have “broken apart in the air,” according to a military statement, local reports suggested that some debris fell on populated areas, including Ginatón, east of the airport. No major damage was reported, but several civilians were injured in the ensuing panic as people scrambled for shelter following the activation of air raid sirens across Tel Aviv and surrounding areas.
In response to the threat, Israel temporarily closed its airspace around Ben Gurion Airport, halting all inbound and outbound air traffic. Channel 12 news reported a series of loud explosions heard across central Israel, which residents later identified as the sounds of interceptors being deployed. Israel’s Home Front Command said it was continuing to assess the situation and would issue alerts as needed.
The attack came amid escalating regional tensions and weeks of intensifying hostilities between Israel and various actors in the region. Yemen’s Houthi movement has repeatedly expressed its support for Palestinians in Gaza and has launched missiles and drones toward Israel on several occasions in recent months, usually targeting the Red Sea or southern regions. A direct threat to the central heartland, however, marks a serious escalation.
The missile incident, combined with Trump’s high-profile remarks and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, paints a picture of a region on the brink. As Israel faces increasing attacks from distant fronts like Yemen and growing international scrutiny over its actions in Gaza, its leadership must navigate an increasingly complex matrix of security threats, diplomatic tensions, and domestic political pressure.
Friday’s events are likely to fuel further debate in Israel over the government’s war strategy, its preparedness for multi-front confrontations, and the unresolved issue of the hostages, a crisis that remains deeply personal and politically charged for many Israelis.
