Israel Strikes Sanaa Airport, Escalating Tensions with Houthis

The Israeli military conducted extensive airstrikes on Sanaa's airport, which is under Houthi control, destroying civilian aircraft and infrastructure. This action followed a Houthi missile fired towards Israel, escalating retaliatory hostilities.

Israel has launched a series of airstrikes on the main airport in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, resulting in what the Israeli military describes as the "complete destruction" of the facility. The strikes targeted multiple civilian aircraft, the departures hall, and military installations. According to airport officials, the attacks led to at least three fatalities among civilians.

The airstrikes were a direct response to a missile fired by the Iran-backed Houthi movement, which landed near Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport two days earlier, disrupting operations there momentarily. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the nation would hold accountable anyone threatening its security, stating, "Our choice of when to respond, how to respond and on which targets to respond is a consideration that we make every time."

In reaction to the strikes, Houthi leaders condemned Israel's actions as "failed terrorism," signaling an intention to retaliate further. Mohammed Ali al-Houthi emphasized that support for Gaza remains a priority, hinting at an impending response that could escalate tensions in the region.

Notably, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported targeting not only the airport but also critical electricity infrastructure in Sanaa and indicated that the Houthis were allegedly utilizing the airport for military logistics, including weapon transfers.

In a related development, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a halt to American attacks on the Houthis, claiming that the group had "capitulated" and a ceasefire had been agreed upon. This ceasefire is expected to ensure the uninterrupted flow of international shipping in the region.

Simultaneously, the strikes on Sanaa followed an attack on the crucial port city of Hudaydah, a major entry point for Yemen's food imports, where civilian casualties were reported. The Houthis are reportedly considering retaliating against Israeli airports in response to the ongoing strikes, which marks a shift in the group's military strategy. Israel has previously engaged in military operations in Yemen, including strikes on power plants and ports.

This latest escalation signifies a complex interplay of regional politics, where the clashes between Israel and the Houthis reflect broader geopolitical tensions involving Iran and its allies, with implications for security and humanitarian conditions in Yemen.