May 17 | West Asia:
At least 108 people were killed and hundreds injured in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza on Friday, coinciding with the conclusion of U.S. President Donald Trump’s regional tour. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the casualties include 27 women and 31 children, with intense bombings forcing thousands to flee from areas like Jabalia and Beit Lahiya.
The Israeli military claimed it targeted 150 locations in its ongoing offensive to eliminate Hamas. This comes amid increasing pressure on Hamas to release the remaining 58 hostages from the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that left 1,200 people dead. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to intensify the campaign, stating that a full-scale invasion of Gaza is imminent.
In a related incident, Israel launched airstrikes on two ports in Yemen, claimed to be used by Iran-backed Houthi rebels for arms transactions. The attacks occurred from Thursday night to Friday morning near Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. While Gaza reported extensive civilian casualties, there is no immediate confirmation of fatalities in Yemen. However, Houthi media acknowledged the attacks.
Further intensifying the conflict, Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile at Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday. The missile attack, which injured eight people and caused damage to infrastructure, forced Air India’s Delhi-Tel Aviv flight to divert to Abu Dhabi. Air India later confirmed all passengers were safe and offered full refunds or rebooking options for flights between May 3 to May 6, 2025.
The missile used in the attack was identified by Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sari as the “Palestine-2” hypersonic ballistic missile, which reportedly penetrated Israel’s air defense system. Israel has denied the hypersonic capability of the missile but admitted a lapse in its defense mechanism.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has called an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the Houthi threat and strategize the next phase of military operations. Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning, promising a “sevenfold” response against those who attack Israel. He hinted that the Houthis could soon face the same aggressive military response as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Since the war began on October 7, 2023, over 53,000 Palestinians have reportedly died, with around 3,000 deaths occurring since the breakdown of the most recent ceasefire on March 18, 2025. Israel claims that its actions are necessary to dismantle Hamas, bring back hostages, and ensure long-term security.
Meanwhile, the United States, under President Trump, has launched several airstrikes against Houthi strongholds in Yemen. In the latest strike, 31 people were killed, including women and children, and over 100 were injured. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Houthi rebels have launched over 250 attacks on Israel and the U.S. Navy since October 2023, severely impacting maritime trade.
As tensions escalate on multiple fronts, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, and regional stability remains on edge, with global powers now more deeply involved than ever.
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