Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of Sanaa airport strike, vow retaliation
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- Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of launching airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport on July 13, calling it a 'blatant aggression' that ended a period of de-escalation
- Yahya Saree, Houthi military spokesperson, stated the attack would not go unanswered and that Saudi Arabia would bear the consequences
- Yemen's internationally recognised government ordered all airports in the country closed to air traffic following the incident
- Yemen's defence ministry said its forces targeted Sanaa airport's runway to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing, claiming it later landed safely in Hodeidah
- Moammar bin Mutahar Al-Eryan, the recognised government's information minister, accused the Houthis of detaining a Red Cross aircraft and its crew at Sanaa airport
- Yemen's defence minister claimed diplomatic efforts to stop Iranian flights violating Yemeni airspace had been exhausted and warned of responses 'by all available means'
Why it matters: The airstrike accusation and airport closures disrupt a years-long truce, directly escalating tensions between the Saudi-backed government and Iran-aligned Houthis. With both sides citing sovereignty and retaliation, the risk of renewed broad conflict rises, endangering humanitarian operations and regional stability.
