**Houthi Missile Strikes on Israel Intensify Post-US Operation in Yemen**

The Houthi rebels have ramped up their missile attacks against Israel, launching a total of 41 ballistic missiles since the termination of a U.S.-led military operation in Yemen. These escalated strikes have included a hit on Ben Gurion Airport, increasing nighttime barrages and exacerbating regional instability.

Since the resumption of hostilities in Gaza roughly three months ago, following the breakdown of a ceasefire with Hamas, Yemeni Houthis have fired 41 missiles toward Israel. Although some missiles did not reach their targets, 23 of these triggered air raid sirens across large swathes of the country, with nine launches occurring overnight between midnight and 7:00 a.m.

During the 53-day U.S.-led operation in Yemen, which concluded on May 6, the Houthis sent 29 missiles towards Israel. Ten of these projectiles failed midflight. Following President Donald Trump's announcement of the campaign’s suspension, where he stated his "respect" for Houthi assurances not to target American vessels, Israel has faced the missile threat alone.

In the two-and-a-half weeks since the pause in U.S. operations, the Houthis have launched an additional 12 missiles at Israel, seven of which have set off sirens. Ynet analyst Ron Ben-Yishai has noted that Israel suspects the Houthis are timing some launches for daylight hours, exploiting the reduced ability of U.S. forces to detect and intercept missile flashes.

Specific incidents highlight the heightened threat. On May 3, a missile was launched at 6:18 a.m. just after sunrise, followed by another attack that damaged Ben Gurion Airport on the next day at 9:17 a.m. Since the U.S. withdrawal, the Houthis seem less worried about immediate retaliations against their launchers. This week alone saw two missiles fired overnight, one at 2:53 a.m. on Wednesday and another at 4:09 a.m. on Thursday, rousing millions of Israeli residents from sleep. Within a span of 24 hours, three additional missiles were launched from Yemen, including one at 11:50 a.m. on the same day.

Despite all three missiles being intercepted, Houthi leaders have repeatedly boasted about their attacks. Yemen’s pro-Houthi newspaper Al-Laa published a headline celebrating the "Yemeni hat-trick on Lod airport within 25 hours," noting the increasing flight cancellations. As a consequence, both Air France and British Airways have extended their flight suspensions to Israel.