Israel Strikes Yemen’s Main Airport in Escalating Confrontation with Houthis

The Israeli military launched a powerful airstrike on Yemen’s main airport in Sanaa on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in hostilities with the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group. The strike — the second in as many days — reportedly killed at least three people and inflicted widespread damage, according to Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that the operation targeted Houthi military infrastructure and completely disabled Sanaa International Airport. Local residents reported hearing four loud explosions as fighter jets struck the airport, which is located in the rebel-controlled capital.

The IDF confirmed that the airstrikes came in direct response to a Houthi missile that landed near Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Sunday — a serious breach that prompted the temporary suspension of international flights by several major airlines.

“Israeli fighter jets recently conducted airstrikes on Houthi-operated infrastructure at Sanaa’s main airport, rendering the facility completely inoperable,” the Israeli military said in a statement. “Flight runways, aircraft, and other key facilities used to transfer weapons and personnel were targeted.”

According to unnamed airport officials, the strikes damaged three civilian aircraft, the departure terminal, the main runway, and a military airbase used by the Houthis.

Yemen’s national airline, Yemenia Airways, confirmed that three of its commercial planes were destroyed in the attack. The airline, already operating under limited capacity due to the civil war, called the incident a “devastating blow” to the country’s already crippled transportation infrastructure.

Houthi Retaliation and Vows of Continued Resistance

In response, the Houthi movement vowed to continue its military operations, framing their campaign as a defense of the Palestinian people. “The operations of our armed forces will continue, and Yemen’s support for Palestine will only end with the cessation of aggression and siege on Gaza,” said a statement carried by Al-Masirah.

Tensions have been steadily rising since Israel began its military campaign in Gaza following the deadly Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. The Houthis — as part of Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance” that also includes Hamas and Hezbollah — have since launched numerous missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli territory and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

On Sunday, the Houthis declared their intention to impose a “comprehensive aerial blockade” on Israel, threatening to continue targeting its airports. The missile that landed near Ben Gurion marked one of the most direct threats to Israeli civilian infrastructure since the start of the war in Gaza.

Global and Regional Reactions

The airstrikes on Monday and Tuesday also hit Hodeidah, a critical port city on Yemen’s western coast, killing four and wounding 39 others, according to Houthi health officials. The Israeli military said those strikes were also aimed at disrupting weapons trafficking routes used by the Houthis.

Hans Grundberg, the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, condemned the attacks and warned of “a grave escalation in an already fragile and volatile regional context.” Humanitarian organizations have also raised concerns over the impact on civilian infrastructure, particularly the destruction of airport facilities used for aid deliveries.

The Houthis currently control a majority of Yemen’s population and territory, despite years of airstrikes and a Saudi-led coalition’s efforts to dislodge them. Their resilience has made them a key player in the broader regional conflict centered around Iran’s support for anti-Israel militant groups.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to respond forcefully to any attacks on Israeli soil, and Tuesday’s airstrike signals an intensifying approach toward deterring threats from beyond its immediate borders. With the Houthis vowing further retaliation and Israel standing firm on its defensive posture, the potential for broader regional conflict continues to loom.

The unfolding events raise critical questions about the durability of regional alliances, the role of Iran in arming and supporting proxy groups, and the likelihood of a widening war in the Middle East as the Gaza conflict spills further across borders.

News Source: Reuters