Yemen’s internationally recognized government struck the runway at Sanaa International Airport on July 13, triggering the most serious military exchange between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in roughly four years.
The Yemeni Armed Forces said they targeted the runway to prevent an Iranian passenger aircraft from landing. The plane was carrying a Houthi delegation returning from Tehran, where members had attended the state funeral of late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Earlier diplomatic efforts by Sanaa to convince the delegation to board a Yemenia-operated flight instead had failed before the strike was ordered.
Airstrikes hit the runway at Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport. The Houthi government blamed Saudi Arabia and vowed retaliation https://t.co/wQLhbd3bE9 pic.twitter.com/EDM2WyUki4
— Reuters (@Reuters) July 13, 2026
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree attributed the airport attack to Saudi Arabia rather than the Yemeni government and announced the group was ending its self-declared “de-escalation phase,” calling the strike a “major escalation.” Hours later, the Houthis fired a barrage of ballistic missiles at Abha International Airport and two Saudi military air bases in the kingdom’s south.
The Saudi-led Arab Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen said its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed the missiles before they reached their targets. Saudi Arabia had not publicly acknowledged involvement in the airport strike as of Monday evening, and officials had not responded to requests for comment.
The Iranian aircraft was diverted from Sanaa and landed in Hodeidah, a Houthi-controlled port city on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, after the runway strike rendered it unusable. Yemen’s government subsequently ordered all airports closed and civilian flights suspended, though the Transport Ministry lifted the temporary restrictions and reopened the airspace later that evening.
Defense Minister Major General Taher Al-Aqili framed the strike as a matter of national sovereignty, stating the government would “confront and deal with hostile aircraft violating Yemeni airspace and sovereignty using all available means.” Al-Aqili said Yemen had coordinated with regional and international partners to persuade Iran and the Houthis to respect Yemeni airspace before the operation was ordered.
