Several international airlines suspend flights to Israel’s Ben Gurion airport: Report
Several foreign airlines such as Germany’s national carrier Lufthansa have suspended flights to Tel Aviv following the Houthi air strike that hit the Ben Gurion International Airport.
According to The Times of Israel, other airlines such as Air France, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Hungarian low-carrier Wizz Air also suspended their flights until at least Tuesday.
Spanish airline Air Europa also halted its scheduled flight departing Madrid to Tel Aviv, citing “security” reasons, the news added.
Iran denies role in Houthi attack in Israel
Iran’s Foreign Ministry has said in a statement that “the actions of the Yemenis in support of the Palestinian people was an independent decision stemming from their feeling of solidarity”.
On Sunday, Yemen’s Houthis claimed a missile attack on the country’s main international airport near Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Netanyahu has pledged Israel’s response to the attack while accusing Iran of being a “patron” to the Yemeni armed group.
Houthi-affiliated media reports new US attacks on Yemen
The Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV is reporting that US air raids continued across Yemen overnight.
The latest attacks included three air raids on Khab and ash-Sha’af district in al-Jawf governorate, two attacks on the Attan area of Sanaa and two on the Raghwan district of Marib, Al Masirah said.
Sustained Israeli attack on Yemen’s Houthis ‘almost impossible’
As we’ve reported, Netanyahu has pledged to respond to the Houthi missile attack on Ben Gurion airport yesterday.
However, former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas estimates that whatever action Israel takes is likely to be limited given Yemen’s distance.
“A sustained aerial attack is almost impossible,” Pinkas told Al Jazeera. “It’s 2,500km (1,550 miles) from Tel Aviv to Hodeidah, the seaport where the Houthis have bases, so it’s a 5,000km [3,100-mile] back-and-forth sortie” with F15 jets carrying tonnes of ammunition, he said.
“On the one hand, I could envision a one-time Israeli attack just to kind of lay the marker down,” added Pinkas. “I cannot see a sustained attack.”
