Forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized government launched a targeted strike on Sanaa international airport on Monday, officials confirmed. The military operation was executed specifically to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing at the Houthi-controlled facility, according to a statement issued by the Yemeni Ministry of Defense. Authorities had issued urgent warnings earlier in the day, ordering civilians, airport staff, and humanitarian organizations to evacuate the premises immediately until further notice.
The Yemeni government stated that the operation was a direct response to the obstruction of its national aviation efforts. According to the government, the Iran-aligned Houthi militia prevented Yemeni national aircraft from accessing the capital’s airport while simultaneously insisting that an Iranian plane be allowed to violate Yemeni airspace. The defense ministry asserted that it was compelled to target the runway to maintain sovereign control over the nation’s entry points and to stop what it described as illicit aerial activities orchestrated by the Iranian regime.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree responded to the airstrikes by accusing Saudi Arabia of orchestrating the operation. He claimed that the attack marked the end of a de-escalation phase and warned that the group would not allow the aggression to go unpunished. The Houthi leadership indicated that they would retaliate, holding Saudi Arabia responsible for the consequences of the strike. There has been no immediate official comment from the Saudi-led coalition regarding the claims of direct Saudi involvement.
Sanaa has remained under the firm control of the Iran-aligned Houthi group since late 2014, while the internationally recognized government, backed by Saudi Arabia and various other Gulf nations, operates primarily out of the southern port city of Aden. This latest confrontation highlights the deepening divisions within the country and the failure of diplomatic efforts to resolve competing claims over sovereignty and infrastructure management. Although a United Nations-brokered truce in 2022 provided a period of relative calm, tensions have spiked in recent weeks, driven by disputes over navigation routes and direct flight paths between Sanaa and Tehran. The incident underscores the fragility of the current status quo, as both factions continue to utilize military pressure to assert authority over strategic assets like international airports.
