Jerusalem Post: Houthi Attack Exposes Serious Security Gaps at Ramon Airport and Embarrasses the Israeli Establishment Official Investigation: The Airport Was Left Without Adequate Protection Despite Warnings… The September Attack Reopened the File
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The Jerusalem Post reported in a new article that Ramon Airport—located near Eilat in the south of the occupied Palestinian territories—has for years suffered from clear neglect in both security and health infrastructure, despite repeated warnings issued by Israel’s State Comptroller.
According to the newspaper, the drone attack carried out by the Houthis on September 7, 2025 exposed the scale of the shortcomings, after striking the passenger terminal and wounding five people with shrapnel.
The report states that the incident dealt an embarrassing blow to Israeli security, especially after initial investigations confirmed that the Houthi strike employed a “complex and deceptive diversion technique” that allowed it to bypass air defenses and reach the airport.
State Comptroller: Government Agencies Ignored Warnings… Had the Report Been Released Earlier, the Attack Might Have Been Prevented
According to the Jerusalem Post, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman accused several entities—including the Airports Authority, the Health Ministry, the police, and the Israeli army—of failing to address the security and health vulnerabilities at Ramon Airport.
Englman stated that publication of his report had been delayed due to objections from Knesset officials, the military, and various government agencies, implying that had the report not been blocked, the Houthi attack might have been prevented—or at least its impact reduced.
The newspaper added that the police have still not established a dedicated command-and-control system for the airport, and that the Israeli army does not consider itself directly responsible for its security. This has led to overlapping authorities and the absence of a clear chain of command during major incidents.
Medical and Health Gaps Endanger Travelers… and Officials Ignore the Findings
The State Comptroller’s report—according to the paper—reveals that Ramon Airport lacks the required health infrastructure under international standards.
Since 2017, Israel’s Health Ministry and Magen David Adom have indicated that the airport needs a specified number of ambulances and permanent medical services, but these requirements were never met.
Despite this, the Airports Authority declared in March that the airport met health safety standards—an assertion the Comptroller described as a “concealment of facts” that could endanger passengers.
A 2019 Israeli Health Ministry document—cited by the newspaper—shows that the ministry informed the National Security Council and the prime minister that it could not assume responsibility for the airport’s health situation, but no follow-up action was taken.
Air Defense Weakening After the June Conflict… and the Houthis Seized the Moment
According to the Jerusalem Post, Israeli officials in the south admitted that the air-defense infrastructure had deteriorated following the confrontation with Iran in June 2025, resulting in a clear shortage of resources.
These officials believe the Houthi attack came at a moment of “reduced attention” and took advantage of a period of relaxed security after the end of the conflict.
The paper reports that the Air Force intercepted three drones during the day, but the Houthi strike that hit the airport occurred just minutes after Home Front Command declared the alert over—indicating that Israeli defenses reduced their readiness at a critical moment.
The newspaper describes the operation as an “operational success” for the Houthis in terms of penetrating an area theoretically well protected and carrying out a precise strike on a civilian facility that symbolizes Israel’s emergency planning.
Ramon Airport: A Failing Project With Billions of Shekels in Losses
The Jerusalem Post adds that Ramon Airport—built to serve as an alternative to Ben Gurion Airport during wartime—suffers annual operational losses estimated at 274 million shekels, while its total losses have exceeded 1.4 billion shekels since opening, in addition to 2 billion shekels spent on construction.
The airport can handle 150 flights a day, compared to 400 flights at Ben Gurion, placing it in a secondary category in terms of strategic importance and resources.
Post-September Improvements… Still Insufficient
The paper reports, citing its sources, that some security fixes were implemented after the Houthi attack, but these measures remain far below the level required for an airport designed to serve as an emergency alternative during wartime.
It adds that the full details of the airport’s security failures are disclosed only to select Knesset members due to their sensitivity.
Responding to the State Comptroller’s report, the Airports Authority said it had formed a central committee to address the violations, arguing that most of the shortcomings concern the army, police, and Health Ministry—not the Authority alone.
Houthi Attack Imposes a New Equation and Embarrasses Israeli Security
According to the Jerusalem Post’s analysis, the Houthi attack on Ramon Airport was not an isolated incident but an indicator of the group’s ability to exploit internal security gaps in Israel and carry out high-impact strikes beyond its traditional scope—forcing the security establishment into a comprehensive reassessment of its plans.
The newspaper argues that the continuation of such attacks—amid declining government coordination and persistent health and security deficiencies—raises a central question within Israel:
Was the Ramon incident an exception… or the beginning of a series of attacks that could expose the fragility of Israel’s defensive structure?
