SANAA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility Thursday night for a "hypersonic ballistic missile" toward Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, which the Israeli military said was intercepted earlier on the night.

"The operation came in response to the (Israeli) crime of starvation and thirst in Gaza and the enemy's aggression against the southern suburbs of Beirut," said the Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

"We will stand with Gaza until the aggression and blockade against Gaza stop," he added.

The Israeli military said earlier Thursday night that its aerial defense systems intercepted a missile fired from Yemen.

On Wednesday, the Houthi group said it launched two drone attacks toward Ben Gurion Airport, but Israel didn't comment.

The Houthi rebel group, which controls much of northern Yemen, has been targeting Israel with long-range missiles and drones since November 2023 to show solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Most of the Houthi attacks were reportedly intercepted by the Israeli defense systems. ■