Israeli warplanes targeted the main international airport in Yemen on Wednesday, marking a retaliatory strike against recent missile attacks attributed to the Iran-backed Houthi militia.
This airstrike follows a previous attack earlier this month that resulted in significant damage to the airport serving the capital, Sana, leading to a suspension of flights for over a week. The latest strike reportedly destroyed the last operational aircraft at the airport, as confirmed by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and the airport’s director.
Khaled al-Shaief, the airport’s director, stated that the aircraft was completely destroyed, sharing images of the wreckage on social media, which depicted fire trucks working to extinguish the flames. This aircraft was the final plane belonging to the national airline operating at Sana airport.
The Sana airport is crucial for over 20 million Yemenis residing in Houthi-controlled territories, facilitating access to essential medical care, medications, and humanitarian aid.
The Houthis, who dominate much of northwestern Yemen, including Sana, have been launching rockets and drones at Israel and targeting vessels in the Red Sea since October 2023, framing their actions as a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Both the Houthis and Hamas are considered part of Iran’s network of proxy militias across the Middle East.
This week, sirens in Israel alerted residents to incoming Houthi missiles, all of which the Israeli military reported intercepting successfully.
Earlier this month, a Houthi missile landed near a terminal at Israel’s main international airport, prompting alarm among airlines, some of which temporarily halted operations in the country.
In response to these developments, Israel conducted a strike on the Sana airport on May 6, with neither side indicating a willingness to de-escalate. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “Whoever harms us, we will harm them,” attributing some responsibility for the Houthi actions to Tehran.
Netanyahu emphasized that Iran is the primary force behind the Houthis and is accountable for the aggression originating from Yemen. His comments coincide with Israel's threats regarding a potential attack on Iran’s nuclear program, which Israel perceives as a significant threat.
Yemen, located at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is the poorest Arab nation and has been embroiled in a civil war that has led to one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Analysts suggest that Israeli and U.S. military actions have exacerbated instability and worsened the plight of Yemeni civilians.
In mid-March, the U.S. military intensified its bombing campaign in Yemen, aimed at diminishing the Houthis’ capacity to target shipping. President Trump had previously vowed to “completely annihilate” the Houthis.
However, he recently announced the cessation of U.S. bombings, asserting that the Houthis “don’t want to fight anymore,” without elaborating on any potential agreements reached between Washington and the Houthis.
Following Trump’s statements, senior Houthi politician Mohammed al-Bukhaiti indicated that if the U.S. ceased its attacks on Yemen, the Houthis would halt their assaults on “American military fleets and interests.” Nevertheless, he affirmed that the Houthis would persist with other military operations “in support of Gaza” until Israel concludes its military actions.