Al-Qassam Brigades Launch Ayyash 250 Missile Toward Ramon Airport, Says Abu Ubaida

On May 13, 2021, the Al-Qassam Brigades said they launched the "Ayyash 250 missile" toward Ramon Airport in southern Palestine, describing the target as about 220 km from Gaza.

“The Qassam Brigades—the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas)—released footage documenting, for the first time, the moment of launch of the first Ayash 250 missile in May 2021”

Al-Jazeera Net

An Anadolu Ajansı report said the missile was launched "at this very moment" and that the brigades framed it as retaliation for the assassination of "our heroic leaders and engineers."

Al-Jazeera Net

Al-Jazeera Net said Qassam released footage documenting the first launch of the Ayash 250 missile and that the spokesperson Abu Ubaida announced the launch toward Ramon Airport on May 13, 2021.

The same Al-Jazeera Net account said the launch came under direct orders from Mohammed Deif and targeted Ramon Airport at a distance of 220 kilometers, calling it a "qualitative advancement" in missile capabilities.

Anadolu Ajansı also reported that the brigades called on international airlines to "immediately suspend their flights to airports located in Occupied Palestine."

Alongside the Ramon Airport strike, Anadolu Ajansı said the Al-Qassam Brigades announced a missile strike against Israeli towns and villages including "Tel Aviv, Beersheba, Netivot" and the air bases at "Tel Nof and Nevatim."

Anadolu Ajansı reported that Israeli newspaper Maariv said Israeli authorities decided to divert flights from Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv to Mitzpe Ramon Airport due to the "delicate security situation."

Anadolu Ajansı

Haaretz, as quoted by Anadolu Ajansı, said several international airlines suspended flights to Israel after rocket barrages from Gaza, including "Delta, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, and British Airways."

Al-Jazeera Net described the Ayash 250 missile as named after Yahya Ayyash, and said it has a range of 250 kilometers and was used in the 'Toofan al-Aqsa' battle in October 2023.

In the same Anadolu Ajansı report, the brigades warned that "Your airports and every point from north to south of Palestine will be within the reach of our missiles."

Chronique de Palestine described the Al-Aqsa Flood operation as involving locally manufactured arsenal and said it included "mortar shells to guided missiles" used during the October 7 offensive.

“From Al-Mayadeen: Discover in this detailed list the locally manufactured arsenal available to Palestinian resistance organizations and how it was used during the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, ranging from mortar shells to guided missiles”

Chronique de Palestine

That same source said the Al-Aqsa Flood operation featured drones as a "central element," providing cover for advancing ground forces and destroying remote weapon systems (RWS) and Israeli armored vehicles.

Chronique de Palestine also said Hamas al-Qassam Brigades released footage of their attack drone al-Zouari, claiming that "35 drones targeted enemy positions on October 8."

Al-Jazeera Net said the Ayash 250 launch was part of the fourth day of the battle "Swords of Jerusalem" and that the missile is "named after martyr engineer Yahya Ayyash."

Chronique de Palestine added that within the Joint Operations Room (JOR), the al-Qassam Brigades of Hamas and other groups joined forces, including the al-Quds Brigades of the PIJ and the Abu Ali Mustafa Brigades of the PFLP, to consolidate and strengthen the Palestinian national choice of resistance.