Airstrikes hit Sanaa International Airport in Yemen, and the Houthi movement wasted no time pointing the finger at Saudi Arabia. The accusation carries serious weight: if accurate, it would represent a direct hit on one of the most symbolically loaded pieces of infrastructure in a conflict that has dragged on for a decade.
Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ military spokesman, framed the strikes as a major breach of the ceasefire agreement that has been in place since 2022. He said the group is threatening retaliation.
Why an airport attack matters so much
Sanaa International Airport is not just a runway. In a landlocked conflict zone, it is a lifeline. Aid organizations rely on it to move humanitarian supplies. Diplomats use it to enter and exit the country. And militarily, controlling or degrading it has been a recurring objective for both sides since this war began in earnest in 2015.
Saudi Arabia has struck the airport before. Attacks in 2015 targeted Houthi military logistics moving through the facility. A 2020 strike was reportedly aimed at preventing flights the Saudis suspected of carrying Iranian supplies or personnel.
