Sanaa: Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV reported on Tuesday that the Sanaa International Airport in Yemen was struck by joint Israeli and U.S. forces following an Israeli order for evacuation of the area. Multiple explosions were heard in the capital.
The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation cited two sources close to the Houthis, claiming that the Sanaa airport was "completely destroyed." This follows Israel’s warning a day earlier, demanding civilians to evacuate the area around the airport.
The strikes come in retaliation for a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi Ansar Allah group that reportedly targeted Israel's Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed a counteroffensive against the group, asserting Israel’s right to defend itself from threats over long distances.
According to the Israeli military, the attacks targeted both military and economic infrastructure used by the Houthi militia. Specific strikes included the Hodeidah port and the Bajil cement factory, suspected of being used for funding Houthi operations and smuggling Iranian weapons, as well as constructing military tunnels.
The Israeli army emphasized that these actions are part of its deterrence strategy against threats to its citizens, highlighting Iran’s logistical and financial backing of the Houthis.
Al-Masirah TV reported that in addition to the airport, six airstrikes hit the port of Hodeidah and other targets in Bajil. Houthi Ministry of Health spokesperson Anis Al-Asbahi confirmed that 21 people were injured in the attack on the cement factory.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding U.S. involvement. While Al-Masirah and Houthi-linked Saba News Agency reported American airstrikes on Sanaa, including attacks on Airport Street and Al-Arbaeen Street, a U.S. official denied direct involvement in these latest operations.
Saba cited the Houthi health ministry, reporting 16 injuries from what it termed "U.S. aggression" in the capital.
Israeli Channel 12 quoted a defense official as saying that "the Israeli army is targeting sites in Yemen," while the Walla news site cited a U.S. official confirming joint coordination with Israel.
Israeli security sources told Channel 13 that the operation involved over 50 bombs and missiles and mirrored past military campaigns. Despite the strikes, they expressed skepticism that the missile attacks from Yemen would cease.
In response to Netanyahu’s statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared a "comprehensive aerial siege" on Israel, particularly targeting Ben Gurion Airport, urging international airlines to suspend all flights to Israeli airports.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense has acknowledged conducting almost daily strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since mid-March, hitting over 1,000 locations.
