Yemen: Israel Strikes Sana’a Airport, Destroys Last Remaining Houthi Aircraft

Image: Jihad Watch

On Wednesday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) launched a targeted airstrike on Yemen’s Sanaa International Airport, in direct retaliation for a series of ballistic missile launches carried out by the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group over the past week. These missile attacks, aimed at Israeli territory, mark the latest escalation in a conflict that has drawn in multiple regional actors and intensified since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza in October 2023.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant confirmed the operation, stating that the Israeli Air Force had successfully destroyed the last functional aircraft remaining in the hands of the Houthis at the Sanaa airport—an airport that had already been hit in previous Israeli operations over recent months. According to Gallant, this strike was part of a broader effort to degrade the Houthis’ military infrastructure and to deter them from continuing their campaign of long-range missile and drone attacks targeting Israel.

In a broader strategic move, Defense Minister Gallant revealed that Israel is in the process of implementing an aerial and naval blockade—albeit not in the traditional physical sense. Instead of deploying naval vessels off the Yemeni coast, Israel is executing a policy of sustained military pressure aimed at rendering key Houthi maritime ports and aviation hubs unusable. This method, Israeli officials believe, will discourage commercial actors and foreign governments from engaging in maritime trade or transportation near Houthi-controlled zones, effectively isolating the group and crippling their logistical channels.

The Jerusalem Post reported that the intent behind this “blockade” is to create a de facto quarantine through intimidation and deterrence rather than a conventional physical cordon. By continuously targeting infrastructure such as the Hodeidah Port and Sanaa Airport, Israel aims to deter allies or suppliers of the Houthis from attempting to aid them, thereby restricting the group’s access to military resources and international support.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the development, reaffirming Israel’s firm stance. “We will not tolerate attacks on our sovereignty,” he said. “Those who do not understand our message through force will come to understand it through even greater force.” His remarks underscore Israel’s evolving security doctrine, which now includes proactive measures against threats emanating not only from Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip—but also from the distant Arabian Peninsula.

The Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, have grown increasingly bold in recent years, often positioning themselves as champions of the Palestinian cause. Since the Gaza conflict reignited, they have attempted several missile and drone attacks against Israeli territory—most of which have been intercepted by Israel’s Arrow and David’s Sling missile defense systems or by U.S. Navy vessels in the Red Sea. These attacks are widely seen as a proxy campaign orchestrated with Iran’s blessing, adding another layer to the region’s already complex web of alliances and rivalries.

Strategically, the Israeli strike on Sanaa Airport carries broader implications. Not only does it represent Israel’s willingness to strike far beyond its borders in defense of national security, but it also sends a clear message to Iran and its network of proxy militias across the Middle East—from Hezbollah in Lebanon to the militias in Syria and Iraq—that Israel is prepared to respond forcefully, wherever threats originate.

As the region braces for further escalation, the international community is watching closely. Any miscalculation in this volatile equation could risk a broader confrontation, especially in the Red Sea corridor—a critical artery for global trade that is increasingly becoming a flashpoint for military tensions between Western powers, Israel, and Iran-aligned groups.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)