The Houthi group, which controls northern Yemen, alleged on Monday (July 13) that Saudi Arabia had carried out an airstrike on the international airport in the capital, Sanaa. The Iran-backed Yemeni rebel group warned of retaliation following the incident. A Reuters report noted that this event has once again put to the test efforts to de-escalate the long-standing conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree termed the attack “blatant aggression,” stating that the window for easing tensions between the two sides had closed. He asserted that the regional power, Saudi Arabia, would face consequences and that the attack would certainly be met with a response. Meanwhile, the civil aviation authority of the internationally recognized Yemeni government ordered the suspension of all air traffic at the country’s airports until further notice.
However, the Saudi government’s communications office did not immediately respond to the Houthi allegations. Earlier on Monday, the defense ministry of the internationally recognized Yemeni government stated that its armed forces had targeted the runway at Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. A Yemeni army spokesman later confirmed that the aircraft had safely landed at the Houthi-controlled Hodeidah airport.
The internationally recognized Yemeni government, operating from the southern port city of Aden, has long enjoyed the support of Saudi Arabia and several Gulf states. Yemen has been plagued by civil war and proxy conflicts involving regional powers for over a decade. The conflict began after the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government to relocate to the south. Years of clashes between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis have created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Although a 2022 ceasefire remained largely effective, the situation has become volatile again due to the war in Gaza and rising regional tensions surrounding Iran; during this period, the Houthis also launched attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.
The country’s protracted civil war intensified again last year after a UAE-backed separatist group seized control of vast areas of southern Yemen. This has also caused a rift within the Saudi-led coalition formed against the Houthis. Muammar bin Mutahar al-Eryani, Information Minister of the internationally recognized Yemeni government, alleged that the Houthis have detained an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) aircraft at Sanaa airport and are holding its pilot and co-pilot hostage.
Earlier on Monday, the country’s Defense Minister stated that the government had made every diplomatic effort to prevent Iran and the Houthis from violating Yemeni airspace, but these attempts had failed. He warned that action would be taken using “all available means” against any hostile aircraft violating Yemeni airspace, holding Iran responsible for the situation.
