Israeli air strike shuts down Sanaa international airport in Yemen

An Israeli air strike on Tuesday targeted Sanaa International Airport in Yemen’s capital, dealing a critical blow to Houthi infrastructure and forcing the facility into a full shutdown, according to a statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

The IDF confirmed the operation late Tuesday, saying the airport had been used by the Iran-backed Houthi movement to “transfer weapons and operatives,” adding that the strike successfully destroyed “critical infrastructure.”

“Following intelligence assessments and prior warnings issued to civilians, Israeli Air Force jets struck key operational hubs at Sanaa airport,” the IDF said in a statement. “The facility has been rendered completely inoperable.”

Earlier in the day, Israeli authorities issued an evacuation warning to those near the airport, stating, “Failure to evacuate and stay away from the area puts you in danger.” No immediate reports of casualties were available, and the extent of civilian presence at the time of the strike remains unclear.

This marks the second Israeli attack on Sanaa airport in recent months. A previous strike took place in December 2024, as part of Israel’s broader military campaign against Houthi targets in Yemen. The Houthis have launched several missile and drone attacks toward Israel in recent months, aligning themselves with Iranian-led resistance movements amid regional tensions.

Tuesday’s strike comes just a day after Israeli warplanes targeted military positions in the Yemeni port city of Hudaydah. That operation was carried out in retaliation for a missile launched by the Houthis, which landed near Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv on Sunday. Though the missile did not cause casualties, it has heightened Israeli concerns over the Houthis’ expanding long-range strike capabilities.

Since the beginning of the year, Israel has conducted a series of strikes against Houthi infrastructure, including power plants and port facilities, in an effort to disrupt what it claims is an expanding Iranian proxy network operating out of Yemen.

There has been no immediate comment from Houthi officials regarding the latest strike, though the group has previously vowed to respond to Israeli attacks with “force and persistence.”

The airstrike underscores the growing scope of Israel’s military campaign across the Middle East, as it continues to confront threats from Iran-aligned militias amid ongoing regional instability.