Israel Bombs Sanaa Airport in Retaliation for Houthi Missile Strikes

Israeli warplanes targeted the Sanaa International Airport in Yemen on Wednesday, which is under Houthi terrorist control, in response to ongoing ballistic missile attacks on Israel by the Iran-aligned terrorist group.

Since Israel’s last airstrike in Yemen on May 16, the Houthis have launched at least seven ballistic missiles and multiple drones toward Israel, with the most recent attack occurring Tuesday morning.

Wednesday’s operation involved Israeli Air Force fighter jets, aerial refuelers, and surveillance aircraft.

In a statement, the IDF said the airstrike hit the airport as well as an aircraft used by the Houthis “to transport terrorists who advanced terror attacks on Israel.”

Defense Minister Yisr6 Katz confirmed that this plane was the last operational aircraft the Houthis possessed. Other planes had already been destroyed during an Israeli strike on May 6, conducted in retaliation for repeated Houthi missile launches.

Earlier this month, the Israeli Air Force also bombed the Houthi-controlled ports of Hodeida and Salif, targeting them after repeated missile assaults by the group.

Despite these actions, the Houthis have pledged retaliation and have kept up their missile barrage against Israel.

“The main airport in Sanaa, like the ports of Hodeida and Salif, is regularly operated by the Houthi regime for terror purposes. This demonstrates yet again the brutal misuse of civilian infrastructure by the Houthi terror group,” the IDF stated.

Katz described the airstrike as “a clear message” and a continuation of Israel’s policy: “Anyone who fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price.”

He added that Israel would continue targeting strategic assets used by the Houthis and their backers. “The ports in Yemen will continue to be struck heavily, and the airport in Sanaa will be destroyed again and again,” Katz said.

He warned that the Houthis would face a naval and aerial blockade, stating, “Anyone who harms us will be harmed sevenfold.”

A photo released by the Houthi-linked SABA news agency earlier this month showed a burning plane at Sanaa airport after Israeli airstrikes on May 6.

In a statement, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu echoed Katz’s sentiments: “We operate by a simple principle: Anyone who harms us — we will harm them.”

He stressed that while the Houthis may be carrying out the attacks, “The main power behind them is Iran, which is responsible for the aggression emanating from Yemen.”

The Houthis, who use the slogan “Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the Jews,” began targeting Israel and international shipping routes in November 2023, shortly after the October 7 Hamas-led massacre.

Their missile attacks paused when a ceasefire was brokered between Israel and Hamas in January 2025.

By then, the Houthis had launched over 40 ballistic missiles and many drones and cruise missiles at Israel. One missile in July killed a civilian and injured others in Tel Aviv, triggering Israel’s initial response in Yemen.

Since March 18, when Israel resumed military operations against Hamas terrorists in Gaza, the Houthis have fired 41 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones at Israel. Some of these projectiles failed to reach their targets.