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Yemen's internationally recognised government said its forces carried out a strike on Sanaa airport on Monday, targeting the runway to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The Houthi rebel group, which controls the capital, blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack and threatened retaliation, reviving a conflict that had remained largely dormant since a 2022 truce.

The strike marks the largest flare-up in years between the two sides, coming after weeks of rising tensions and following the first publicly announced flight between Tehran and Sanaa in over a decade on July 3. The government said the runway was hit because the Houthis had allowed an Iranian plane to violate Yemeni airspace.

Coverage comparison

Multiple outlets reported the government's claim of responsibility and the Houthis' accusation against Saudi Arabia. Al Jazeera and The Hindu both noted that the Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia despite the government's admission. Fox News also reported the Houthi condemnation of Saudi Arabia, describing the group as a U.S.-designated terrorist organisation.

Reports differed on the sequence of events. Fox News said the government's defence ministry had targeted the runway to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, and that an armed forces spokesman later said the aircraft had landed at Houthi-controlled Hodeidah airport. Al Jazeera reported that the attempted landing of another flight from Tehran led to the bombing of the runway.

Several sources quoted Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree as saying the attack ended the "de-escalation phase" of Yemen's war and warned that "this aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished." The Hindu and Al Jazeera both reported that the Houthis threatened retaliation, with Al Jazeera quoting a leading Houthi official, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, threatening a "siege" on Saudi Arabia.

Key claims

  • The Yemeni government claimed responsibility for the strike on Sanaa airport, saying it was to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. A government statement said: "The Houthi terrorist militia, supported by the Iranian regime, prevented Yemeni national aircraft from landing at the capital's airport, Sanaa, and insisted that the Iranian aircraft violate Yemeni airspace. Therefore, the airport runway was targeted."
  • The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack, without providing evidence, as reported by Al Jazeera and The Hindu.
  • Both sides had begun mobilising fighters in late June, according to Al Jazeera. The first publicly announced flight between Tehran and Sanaa in more than a decade landed on July 3, creating new tensions.
  • Fighting between the two sides in Hodeidah governorate killed dozens, described by Al Jazeera as the worst violence in four years.
  • The Houthis fired ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia, as reported by Al Jazeera, in response to the airport strike.
  • A leading Houthi official threatened a "siege" on Saudi Arabia, warning that "their willingness to attack Sanaa Airport to prevent flights from arriving or departing gives Yemen the right to strike their airports and to impose on them a siege just as they have done to us."
  • Fox News reported that the Houthis have frequently disrupted commercial shipping in the Red Sea since joining Hamas following its invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
  • Fox News also noted that the US has sanctioned Mahan Air for its role in supplying weapons to terrorist groups.

Perspectives

Yemeni government: Yemen's internationally recognised government claimed responsibility for the strike, saying it was a defensive measure to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. Defence Minister Taher al-Aqili said the government's "patience has run out," as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Houthi rebels: The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack, with military spokesperson Yahya Saree saying it ended the "de-escalation phase" and warned of retaliation. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti threatened a "siege" on Saudi Arabia, saying the group would respond to attacks they perceived to be from Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has not yet publicly responded to the Houthi accusations. The Houthis' threats against Saudi airports have raised fears of a resumption of war between the Kingdom and the Houthis, as noted by Fox News.