2026 Sanaa airport strike

On 13 July 2026, the internationally recognized Yemeni government struck Sanaa International Airport. The strikes were attributed to Saudi Arabia by the Houthis and many international sources. The airstrikes occurred amidst Houthi involvement in the 2026 Iran war and increased tensions in the Middle East, and was a serious escalation of the ongoing Yemeni civil war.^[1]

Background

The Yemeni civil war has been ongoing since 2014, following the Yemeni revolution in 2011, which began following the Houthi takeover of the capital Sanaa and other populated places in Northern Yemen. The civil war saw an intervention by Saudi Arabia and allied forces in support of anti-Houthi forces. The Houthis have been widely regarded as a proxy force of Iran and part of the so-called Axis of Resistance.^[1]

Strike

On 13 July, the Yemeni government declared that they had struck Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing at the airport. The captured footage show four consecutive blasts occurred that cratered the main runway tarmac to guarantee the incoming Iranian flight couldn't land. Thick smoke plumes rose from the impact site.^[1]

Aftermath

The Houthis immediately declared the ceasefire between them and Saudi Arabia over. The Houthis warned Saudi Arabia of consequences. Immediately after the strike, the PLC-affiliated Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority(CAMA) ordered to shut down all domestic airports due to ongoing military activities.^[1]

Houthi military retaliation

Hours later, the Houthis declared that they had launched ballistic missile strikes on Saudi Arabia's Abha Airport and declared that the entire airspace over Saudi Arabia was a combat zone calling on for planes to avoid Saudi Arabian airspace while travelling. The Saudi Arabian defenses though proved to be capable with Saudi Arabia declaring that its Patriot defense systems successfully downed all the hostile objects in its airspace.^[1]

Rallies in support of Houthis

After the attack, pro Houthi rallies erupted across Yemen. Many Yemenis gathered in front of the Sana'a airport and staged pro Houthi rallies against Saudi Arabian aggression. Popular rallies and armed tribal gatherings erupted across Yemen in support of the Houthis as the tribals condemned the Saudi airstrikes and supported the Iranian stance to break the blockade in Yemen.^[1]

Saudi Arabian retaliation and impact

The Saudis have since used the Yemeni government and the Southern Giants Brigades as a proxy against the Houthi troops while conducting repeated airstrikes on Houthi targets like Hodeidah and Kamaran Island. The Guardian then later reported that the Saudis were moving troops from Eastern to Western Yemen and mobilizing along the border with Houthis with reports indicating Saudis were to launch an offensive into Central Yemen against the Houthi rebels.^[1]

Direct belligerents

Yemen (Presidential Leadership Council): The PLC President Rashad al-Alimi declared that there will be 'no compromise on sovereignty' regarding unauthorized plane flights. It is speculated that the Yemeni government aims to assert its authority that direct Iranian transit lines were completely unauthorized.^[1]

International reactions

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia maintained its silence on the Sana'a strike while Saudi Arabian general Turki al-Maliki stated that the missiles launched by the Houthis towards the Abha Airport were successfully downed.^[1]