Key Highlights:
- Israeli strike destroys key infrastructure at Sanaa International Airport
- Airport suspends all flights following “severe damage”
- Yemenia Airways loses multiple aircraft in the attack
- Strike follows Houthi missile impact near Tel Aviv airport
An Israeli airstrike on Sanaa International Airport has caused extensive destruction and financial losses estimated at $500 million, according to airport director Khaled al-Shaief. The attack, which occurred in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, left terminal buildings and critical equipment in ruins, prompting a suspension of all flights.
Al-Shaief reported that the airport’s terminals, technical equipment, and a key warehouse were completely destroyed. Yemenia Airways lost three aircraft in the strike, while a total of six planes were reportedly damaged beyond repair. “We are exploring temporary alternatives to reopen the airport, but full restoration will require significant time and resources,” he said.
The Israeli attack came in retaliation to a Houthi missile strike that landed near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday, May 4. Though no casualties were reported, the missile left a large crater near the facility, escalating tensions between the two sides.
This military exchange occurred just as a U.S.-mediated ceasefire was announced between the Houthi rebels and the United States, aimed at ensuring safe passage in the Red Sea. However, the agreement does not include Israel, and the Houthis have vowed to retaliate for the recent Israeli airstrikes.
Since late 2023, the Houthis have repeatedly targeted Israel and international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. A previous two-month ceasefire in the Gaza war had led to a temporary halt in attacks, but Houthi threats resumed in March over Israel’s aid blockade on the Gaza Strip, drawing U.S. military responses.
