Israel Attacks Sanaa Airport in Yemen; Houthis Vow Continued Support for Gaza
Tensions have escalated in the Middle East as Israel launched air strikes on Yemen’s main airport in the capital, Sanaa, in retaliation for recent missile attacks by the Houthi rebel group. The strikes, carried out on Wednesday, come just one day after the Houthis launched two ballistic projectiles toward Israeli territory, both of which were intercepted by Israeli air defenses.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense confirmed the air raids targeted what it described as "terror targets" at Sanaa International Airport. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the operation “destroyed the last aircraft remaining” at the airport. “This is a clear message and a continuation of our policy: Whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price,” Gallant said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israel’s military response was proportional and directed at aggression backed by Iran. “But, as I have said more than once, the Houthis are only the symptom. The main driving force behind them is Iran, which is responsible for the aggression emanating from Yemen,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Houthi-affiliated broadcaster Al Masirah TV reported that four air strikes targeted the airport runway. Khaled al-Shaief, the general director of Sanaa International Airport, said on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the attack completely destroyed the last civilian aircraft operated by Yemenia Airways. The plane had been scheduled to transport Yemeni pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
According to data reviewed by Al Jazeera, the destroyed aircraft was the last operational plane in Yemenia’s fleet, after previous Israeli strikes had already taken out three others. The airport had only recently reopened following temporary repairs to its runway, mainly serving United Nations humanitarian flights and the lone Yemenia aircraft.
In response to the strike, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said the attacks were intended to punish the group for its steadfast support of Palestinians in Gaza. “No matter the size of Israeli aggression and no matter how often it repeats, it will not affect our people’s stance in supporting the Palestinian people,” he declared.
Al-Houthi added that the Israeli military was seeking to reestablish deterrence through repeated strikes on civilian infrastructure in Yemen. “The Israeli enemy remained in a weak position following the cessation of American aggression due to its failure,” he said.
The recent hostilities are part of a wider regional conflict that has intensified since Israel began its military campaign in Gaza in October 2023. Since then, the Houthis have launched multiple missile and drone attacks against Israel and threatened to impose a naval blockade on the Israeli port of Haifa.
In addition to targeting Israel directly, the Houthis have attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea, prompting retaliatory airstrikes from the United States and the United Kingdom starting in January 2024. However, earlier this month, Washington reached a ceasefire agreement with the Houthis, pausing weeks of U.S.-led air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.
The latest Israeli attack on Sanaa’s airport signals a renewed escalation and raises concerns about the regional spillover of the Gaza war. It also threatens humanitarian operations in Yemen, already one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, where access to aid and transportation is severely limited.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense confirmed the air raids targeted what it described as "terror targets" at Sanaa International Airport. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant stated that the operation “destroyed the last aircraft remaining” at the airport. “This is a clear message and a continuation of our policy: Whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price,” Gallant said.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israel’s military response was proportional and directed at aggression backed by Iran. “But, as I have said more than once, the Houthis are only the symptom. The main driving force behind them is Iran, which is responsible for the aggression emanating from Yemen,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Houthi-affiliated broadcaster Al Masirah TV reported that four air strikes targeted the airport runway. Khaled al-Shaief, the general director of Sanaa International Airport, said on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that the attack completely destroyed the last civilian aircraft operated by Yemenia Airways. The plane had been scheduled to transport Yemeni pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
According to data reviewed by Al Jazeera, the destroyed aircraft was the last operational plane in Yemenia’s fleet, after previous Israeli strikes had already taken out three others. The airport had only recently reopened following temporary repairs to its runway, mainly serving United Nations humanitarian flights and the lone Yemenia aircraft.
In response to the strike, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said the attacks were intended to punish the group for its steadfast support of Palestinians in Gaza. “No matter the size of Israeli aggression and no matter how often it repeats, it will not affect our people’s stance in supporting the Palestinian people,” he declared.
Al-Houthi added that the Israeli military was seeking to reestablish deterrence through repeated strikes on civilian infrastructure in Yemen. “The Israeli enemy remained in a weak position following the cessation of American aggression due to its failure,” he said.
The recent hostilities are part of a wider regional conflict that has intensified since Israel began its military campaign in Gaza in October 2023. Since then, the Houthis have launched multiple missile and drone attacks against Israel and threatened to impose a naval blockade on the Israeli port of Haifa.
In addition to targeting Israel directly, the Houthis have attacked commercial shipping in the Red Sea, prompting retaliatory airstrikes from the United States and the United Kingdom starting in January 2024. However, earlier this month, Washington reached a ceasefire agreement with the Houthis, pausing weeks of U.S.-led air strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen.
The latest Israeli attack on Sanaa’s airport signals a renewed escalation and raises concerns about the regional spillover of the Gaza war. It also threatens humanitarian operations in Yemen, already one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, where access to aid and transportation is severely limited.
