Tel Aviv/Aden, May 5 (UNI) The Yemen-based-Houthi terror group said it was launching a complete air blockade of Israel with constant shelling of airports, and called on all airlines to suspend flights to Israel for their own safety.

"The Yemeni armed forces announce a comprehensive air blockade against the Israeli enemy in response to its expanding aggression against Gaza. We will take action to enforce the blockade by repeatedly striking airports, in particular Lod Airport, which Israel calls Ben Gurion Airport," the statement read.

Yesterday, the Houthis launched a successful missile strike near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. The attack, which bypassed the country's sophisticated anti-missile-technology was a rare instance of any successful missile strikes into Israel. In response, Tel Aviv vowed a 'sevenfold' vengeance, and has since then been mobilising the IDF troops for conducting mass strikes into Yemen.

The Iran-backed outfit called on all international airlines to take notice of this statement and cancel all flights to Israel for safety reasons. Meanwhile, major airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France, Delta, Air India have already suspended their flights to Tel Aviv.

UNI/SPUTNIK ANV RN