Israeli airstrikes shut down Sana'a airport amid rising tensions
Israeli aviation has carried out a series of air raids on Yemen, leading to the closure of the airport in Sana'a. The attack was in retaliation for earlier actions by Houthi rebels.
What do you need to know?
- The international airport in Sana'a, Yemen's capital, has been indefinitely closed due to damage sustained from the Israeli air raids.
- Israeli aviation targeted Houthi rebel positions, including the airport in Sana'a, in response to an earlier Houthi ballistic missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
- The Israeli army spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee, confirmed that the air raid was in response to the Houthi attack.
Why was the airport in Sana'a closed?
The international airport in Sana'a suspended its operations after Israeli aviation carried out a series of air raids on Houthi rebel positions.
These attacks inflicted significant damage to the airport's infrastructure, making it inoperable. The airport's management has announced that it is neither receiving arrivals nor allowing departures, resulting in a complete halt to air traffic in the region.
What were the reasons for the Israeli air raids?
The Israeli aviation raids were a response to the Houthi ballistic missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv the previous Sunday. The Israeli army spokesman, Col. Avichay Adraee, stated that these measures were necessary to respond to the aggression from the Houthi rebels.
The Israeli armed forces concentrated their attacks on strategic targets, including the international airport in Sana'a, a crucial point for the rebels.
Houthis support the Palestinian Hamas in their fight against Israel
The Houthis, recognised by the West as a terrorist organisation, are part of the so-called resistance axis supported by Iran. Since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, they have conducted over 100 attacks on commercial ships off Yemen's coast, supporting the Palestinian Hamas in their fight against Israel. The group continues to launch rocket and drone attacks on Israel, although most of the missiles are intercepted. Israel had previously launched five strikes on the Houthis, including on the port of Hudaydah.
Since early 2024, the USA has led a coalition tasked with safeguarding the freedom of navigation threatened by Houthi attacks. In mid-March, President Donald Trump announced a new offensive, intensifying air raids on this group.
Shortly before the Israeli air raids, Yemeni media reported another US attack on the Houthi-controlled capital, Sana'a.
