Houthi drone evades defenses, smashes into Ramon Airport terminal in south; one hurt – The Times of Israel
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Houthi drone evades defenses, smashes into Ramon Airport terminal in south; one hurt
A drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels evaded Israeli air defenses and smashed into the Ramon Airport terminal in southern Israel. A 63-year-old man was lightly injured by shrapnel from the blast, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service. An initial Israeli Air Force investigation found that the drone aircraft was detected by radar, but it was not classified as a threat by air defense troops. The military said that there was “no indication of technical malfunction in the existing detection systems,” and the failure to shoot down the drone was solely a result of it not being classified a threat, due to human error. Israel briefly closed the airspace over the airport following the attack. Several hours later, the IAA said Ramon. Airport resumed full operations for both takeoffs and landings, for both departures. and arrivals. The attack came shortly after the Israeli Air. Force shot down three other Houthi drones that had set off sirens in several communities on the Egyptian border.
A 63-year-old man was lightly injured by shrapnel from the blast, according to the Magen David Adom ambulance service. The man, along with a woman who fell over while running from the scene, was taken to Yoseftal Medical Center in Eilat for treatment. Several other people required treatment for acute anxiety, MDA added.
The unmanned aerial vehicle struck the passenger terminal at the airport north of Eilat, causing damage, according to airport authorities.
Images from the scene showed shattered glass and debris at an area where baggage is screened. A thick pall of black smoke rose over the terminal and people could be seen running for cover.
An initial Israeli Air Force investigation found that the drone aircraft was detected by radar, but it was not classified as a threat by air defense troops.
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As a result, no sirens sounded, no attempts were made to shoot it down, and the drone ultimately struck the airport.
כטב”ם ששוגר מתימן לפני זמן קצר פגע באולם הנוסעים בנמל התעופה רמון בערבה. בצה”ל מתחקרים את האירוע במקום מספר נפגעים קל pic.twitter.com/3bSMtgGPuk Advertisement — איתי בלומנטל ???????? Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) September 7, 2025
The military said that there was “no indication of technical malfunction in the existing detection systems,” and the failure to shoot down the drone was solely a result of it not being classified as a threat, due to human error.
IAF chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar was set to conduct a more in-depth probe into the drone attack later, the military added.
A similar case happened in July 2024, when a Houthi drone was identified, but not classified as a threat, and struck a building in Tel Aviv, killing a man.
The military said that the Houthis have launched over 150 drones at Israel since the beginning of the war, 98% of which have been intercepted.
Israel briefly closed the airspace over the airport following the attack.
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“Takeoffs and landings at Ramon have been halted. The airport authority is working to restore operations as soon as possible,” the Israeli Airport Authority said in an initial statement.
Several hours later, the IAA said Ramon Airport resumed full operations for both takeoffs and landings.
The reopening of the airspace above Ramon Airport followed a “comprehensive situation assessment with the participation of all relevant professional and security bodies,” the authority said. “Following the completion of all safety and security checks, compliance with international civil aviation standards, and receipt of final approval from the Air Force — Ramon Airport has now been reopened for full operations, for both departures and arrivals.”
The IAA said it had “informed the airlines of the airport’s reopening and will continue to closely oversee the resumption of operations, in order to ensure orderly, safe, and continuous functioning of the airport.”
While designated as an international airport, nearly all flights to and from Ramon are domestic. During the war in Gaza, thousands of Palestinians — including patients, wounded individuals, and their family members — have been evacuated from the Strip via Ramon Airport for medical treatment abroad.
The attack on Ramon Airport came shortly after the military said the Israeli Air Force shot down three other Houthi drones that had set off warning sirens in several communities on the Egyptian border.
Two of the drones were intercepted before crossing Israel’s borders, and the third was shot down after entering Israeli airspace via Egypt, according to the IDF.
Footage showed an Israeli Air Force helicopter downing one of the drones.
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Footage shows the moment one of the Houthi drones was shot down over the Egyptian border by an Israeli Air Force helicopter a short while ago. In all, three drones were intercepted, including two that did not cross the border, according to the IDF. pic.twitter.com/gTECGMYVov — Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) September 7, 2025
The IDF said the fourth drone that hit Ramon was not different from those shot down previously, and did not represent a new threat.
The drone launches on Sunday came amid a wave of Houthi missile and drone attacks over the past two weeks, following Israel’s assassination of Houthi prime minister Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi and several members of his cabinet in an attack in Yemen.
The Houthis — whose slogan calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the Jews” — began attacking Israel and maritime traffic in November 2023, a month after the October 7 Hamas massacre that sparked the war in Gaza.
The Houthis briefly held their fire when a ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hamas in January 2025.
By that point, they had fired over 40 ballistic missiles and dozens of attack drones and cruise missiles at Israel, including one drone that killed a civilian and wounded several others in Tel Aviv in July 2024, prompting Israel’s first strike in Yemen.
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Since March 18, when the IDF resumed its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis in Yemen have launched 80 ballistic missiles and at least 31 drones at Israel. Several of the missiles have fallen short.
In response, Israel has attacked the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, located some 1,800 kilometers (1,100 miles) away, 16 times.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
Drone from Yemen hits Ramon Airport in southern Israel, injuring one
A drone launched from Yemen by the Houthi militant group exploded inside the passenger hall of Ramon International Airport in southern Israel on Sunday, September 7. Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency rescue service said it treated a 63-year-old man for light shrapnel wounds. The damage to Ramon Airport appeared limited and within a couple of hours it reopened as normal flights resumed. Earlier in the day, the Israeli military announced it had intercepted three other drones originating from Yemen. This latest incident marks a significant escalation in aerial threats targeting Israeli territory. This article has been updated to include that the Houthis claim to have carried out the strike, and that the Israel Defense Forces have confirmed that no sirens were sounded before the strike. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this article. We are happy to make clear that the incident is under investigation and that no further information will be released.
Israel’s Magen David Adom emergency rescue service said it treated a 63-year-old man for light shrapnel wounds. The damage to Ramon Airport appeared limited and within a couple of hours it reopened as normal flights resumed.
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In a post on X, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee said no sirens were sounded before the strike and confirmed that the incident remains under investigation.
#عاجل قبل قليل سقطت مسيرة أخرى أطلقت من اليمن في منطقة مطار رامون حيث لم يتم تفعيل انذارات. الحادث قيد الفحص — افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) September 7, 2025
Footage shared on social media showed smoke rising near the terminal moments after the blast, while additional video revealed shattered glass, broken windows and debris scattered across the airport hall.
BREAKING 🔴
Houthis successfully strike Ramon airport in southern Israel:
What we know so far:
• One UAV hit Ramon Airport in southern Israel, north of Eilat.
• The IDF intercepted three other UAVs prior to this event
• The UAV that struck the airport evaded Air… pic.twitter.com/ilGaHx0nX1 — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) September 7, 2025
New footages show the damage at the Israeli occupation’s Ramon Airport after it was struck by a Yemeni drone. pic.twitter.com/w0H0AChj6d — Quds News Network (@QudsNen) September 7, 2025
Earlier in the day, the Israeli military announced it had intercepted three other drones originating from Yemen. This latest incident marks a significant escalation in aerial threats targeting Israeli territory.
🚨The IAF intercepted three UAVs launched from Yemen, two of which were intercepted prior to crossing into Israeli territory.
Sirens were sounded in southern Israel. — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) September 7, 2025
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the strike.
“Enemy airports are unsafe, and foreigners must leave them for their own safety,” Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, wrote on social media. “Other sensitive targets are under fire.”
Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis have intensified missile and drone launches toward Israel in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
عملية عسكرية نوعية ومختلفة ، ومطارات العدو ليست آمنة وعلى الأجانب مغادرتها حفاظاً على سلامتهم .
وهناك أهداف أخرى حساسة تحت النار .
اللهم سدد — نصر الدين عامر | Nasruddin Amer (@Nasr_Amer1) September 7, 2025
With inputs from Associated Press
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include the Houthis’ claim.
June 13: PM meets underground with security chiefs, ministers to discuss response to Iran missile fire
Netanyahu says Israel is working to reduce the price the country will have to pay. He calls the opening strikes “very successful,” which hit a significant part of the Iranian military general staff and the leading nuclear scientists. “If we don’t attack, then it’s 100% that we will die,’ he argues. Netanyahu: “I’ll leave it to America to set out its stance” on the issue of Iranian nuclear weapons and uranium enrichment, he says. The US will determine how to realize that policy, he adds, and he doesn’t know how long it will last. He warns citizens not to “go into euphoria” and to listen to instructions.
“I expect an attack against us, ” he says in a video statement. “It could be very severe attacks, in waves.”
Netanyahu says Israel is working to reduce the price the country will have to pay, without going into details. He warns citizens not to “go into euphoria,” and to listen to instructions from authorities.
He calls the opening strikes “very successful,” which hit a significant part of the Iranian military general staff and the leading nuclear scientists.
Israel destroyed the Natanz plant, he says.
There were doubts about Israel’s capabilities and about the price Israel would pay, he says.
He praises the “amazing work” from the IDF and Mossad to remove any doubts about Israel’s capabilities.
On the question of US support, Netanyahu says he hoped in cabinet meetings that Washington would back Israel, “but we have no choice.”
“If we don’t attack, then it’s 100% that we will die,” he argues.
“So even if it’s not perfect, we have to do it, because we have to change the direction of Iran’s military build-up, both its ballistic weapons and nuclear weapons.”
“US support, or at least US non-opposition, is something that is extremely desirable,” he continues.
He and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer secured US backing in meetings with their US partners, some of which remain secret, he says.
Netanyahu says he updated Washington ahead of time, and he doesn’t know what Trump will decide to do now.
“I’ll leave it to America to set out its stance,” he says. “What they do now? I’ll leave that to President Trump.’ he notes that Trump has specified that Iran cannot have nuclear weapons and cannot have uranium enrichment. The US, he says, will determine how to realize that policy.
He says world leaders recognize Israel’s right to defend itself against Iran.
Netanyahu says he doesn’t know how long it will last.
He recognizes the challenge of dealing with sites such as the Fordow plant near the city of Qom, but says he will not go into details about how Israel will confront that challenge.
At the same time, all the components of the ballistic missile program are vulnerable and above ground, he points out.
He says the surprise element of the operation was vital, and that the scale of the surprise attack is far greater than the detonating of explosives in Hezbollah’s beepers last year.
This operation is on “a whole different level” and it will “change history — ensure our future and change the region.”
The success of this operation will affect what happens in Gaza, he says, and can lead to a new Middle East.
He will address the Iranian people directly later, says Netanyahu.
May 4: IDF chief said warning Israel ‘could lose’ Gaza hostages if major Gaza op launched
Israel and Cyprus agree to sign a deal later this year to lay an electrical cable connecting the two countries. The cable is a central component of the US-backed India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor. The deal also includes a deal to divide the Aphrodite gas field, the PMO and the Energy Ministry announce in a joint statement. The electricity cable will boost Israel’s energy security and help link East to West.
“One of the ideas we discussed is IMEC — a revolutionary project we want to establish,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says about his meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides today, according to the PMO readout.
The electricity cable, part of a broader project to connect India to Europe, will boost Israel’s energy security and help link East to West, says the readout, adding that Netanyahu discussed the project recently with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The meeting also addressed an agreement on the division of the Aphrodite natural gas field between the two countries, which “is expected to be signed within the next two months,” according to the PMO and Energy Ministry.
Netanyahu says he is also seeking to hold a trilateral summit in Israel with Cyprus and Greece “soon.”
Christodoulides says the two countries “need to do much more in the areas of security, intelligence, tourism and trade,” adding that Cyprus, which will assume the presidency European Union Council in 2026, intends to use its position to promote regional interests in Brussels.
“We need to discuss regional developments, particularly concerning the situation in Syria and Lebanon. There is always one neighbor trying to cause problems in our region — and we’ll exchange impressions on that as well,” he adds.