— Ramon International Airport, near the southern resort city of Eilat, briefly halted operations after a drone launched from Yemen struck the airport’s arrivals hall, injuring two people; the facility reopened after safety checks and Air Force clearance.
Key Takeaways
- Ramon Airport was closed for roughly two hours after a drone hit the arrivals hall on Sept. 7, 2025.
- Two people were wounded by shrapnel: a 63-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman, per Magen David Adom.
- The Israeli Airports Authority approved a full reopening after safety and security inspections and Air Force sign-off.
- The Israeli military said the drone was detected by air defense systems but not classified as hostile, so interception systems were not triggered.
- The Iran-aligned Houthi movement claimed responsibility through spokesperson Yahya Saree.
- Ramon handles mainly domestic flights; carriers Israir and Arkia had services scheduled and resumed operations as inspections cleared aircraft.
- Investigations into the drone’s origin, flight path and intent are ongoing.
Verified Facts
At about Sept. 7, 2025, a drone that the Israeli military says was launched from Yemen fell in the area of Ramon International Airport and struck the arrivals hall, temporarily disrupting takeoffs and landings. The closure lasted around two hours while security and safety checks were carried out.
Emergency services reported two injuries from shrapnel. Magen David Adom said the casualties were a 63-year-old man and a 52-year-old woman; both were evacuated to receive medical treatment. No fatalities have been reported.
The Israel Airports Authority announced that operations resumed after completing inspections, confirming compliance with international civil aviation standards, and receiving final approval from the Israeli Air Force. The authority said departures and arrivals returned to normal and the first flight to Ben Gurion Airport was scheduled to depart shortly after reopening.
The Israeli military posted that its air systems detected the drone but did not classify it as hostile, and therefore interception and alert protocols were not activated. The Houthi movement publicly claimed the attack in a televised statement attributed to military spokesperson Yahya Saree.
Operators Israir and Arkia, which fly primarily domestic routes between Ramon and Tel Aviv, said crews and passengers at the airport were safe. After inspections found no damage to Arkia aircraft, the carrier planned to resume flights once Ramon returned to normal operations.
Context & Impact
The strike comes amid an extended period of Houthi attacks stretching from Yemen toward Israeli territory and shipping lanes in the Red Sea, which the group says are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Israel has responded in kind with strikes targeting Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
Ramon Airport sits near Israel’s southern border with Jordan and Egypt and is about 350 km (218 miles) from Tel Aviv. It primarily serves domestic travel to and from Eilat; short disruptions can cascade into delays across domestic schedules and require rapid coordination among airlines, airport authorities and security services.
- Regional security: the incident highlights the reach of Yemen-launched drones and the challenges of classifying and intercepting low-altitude threats.
- Commercial impact: domestic carriers adjusted operations while inspections took place; broader international traffic was not affected.
Official Statements
‘Following the completion of all safety and security checks and receipt of final approval from the Air Force, Ramon Airport has now been reopened for full operations,’ the Israel Airports Authority said in a statement.
Israel Airports Authority
‘The drone was detected by Air Force systems but was not classified as hostile, so interception and alert systems were not activated,’ the Israeli military posted on its official channel.
Israeli military statement
Explainer
Unconfirmed
- Whether the Houthi claim of responsibility is independently corroborated beyond their statement.
- Whether the drone was intended specifically to target the arrivals hall or whether it fell unintentionally in that area.
- Full technical details of the drone’s launch point, flight path and type remain under investigation.
Bottom Line
Ramon Airport resumed normal operations after a brief shutdown following a drone impact that wounded two people. Authorities completed security inspections and the Air Force cleared the field, but investigations continue into the drone’s origin and intent. The incident underscores the wider regional tensions and potential for further cross-border strikes to disrupt civilian travel.