SANA’A, Yemen — Israeli airstrikes have completely destroyed the main passenger terminal at Sana’a International Airport, eliminating both the departure and arrival halls, according to airline industry sources in Yemen. The attack occurred amid escalating hostilities between Israel and the Iranian-backed Houthi terror group, which has intensified threats and military action against Israeli and international targets across the Middle East.
The airstrikes, confirmed by flight-service operators and regional monitors, struck before dawn, targeting what Israeli intelligence identified as dual-use infrastructure exploited by the Houthis. The destruction has rendered Yemen’s principal international gateway inoperable, halting regular passenger traffic and severely complicating humanitarian aid routes in a country already suffering one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Context for the Attack
The operation comes amid a significant uptick in hostile activity from Iranian-backed groups. The Houthis, who seized Sana’a in 2014 and now control much of Yemen’s north and west, have ramped up missile and drone attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea and, more recently, have threatened Israeli territory directly. Their long-range missile capabilities, developed with funding and technical support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), have targeted Israel’s southern port of Eilat and pose a wider threat to maritime commerce and regional stability.
Israeli authorities have made clear that such threats will be met with decisive responses. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly reaffirmed that Israel will not accept aggression by any Iranian-sponsored group, regardless of their location, and that Israeli self-defense measures are necessary to ensure the safety of its civilians and interests.
Iran’s Proxy Network
The strike on Sana’a International Airport illustrates the challenge posed by Iran’s broader proxy network. The Houthis are a central pillar of what Iran terms the “axis of resistance,” a collection of terror groups that also includes Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and militias in Syria and Iraq. These organizations share resources, intelligence, and weaponry as part of a coordinated effort to encircle and weaken Israel and its allies.
After the October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas, in which over 1,200 Israeli civilians were murdered and more than 200 were taken hostage in the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust, Israel expanded its military operations to counter threats not only in Gaza but also along its northern and regional flanks. Iranian-backed militias in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have since intensified attacks against Israel and international maritime traffic, seeking to further destabilize the region.
Humanitarian Impact
The damage to Sana’a’s airport is likely to further worsen Yemen’s dire humanitarian crisis. Blocked airports hinder the ability of aid organizations to deliver supplies and evacuate the wounded. International aid agencies and UN officials have warned for years that the Houthis’ use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes poses a risk to both civilian safety and humanitarian operations.
Israeli military officials stressed that care was taken to avoid unnecessary harm to non-combatants, reiterating that operations target infrastructure used for the storage and deployment of weapons. They place responsibility for civilian suffering on the Houthi leadership and Iranian sponsors who, by embedding military assets within civilian infrastructure, undermine established norms of armed conflict and intentionally increase the risk to civilians.
International Response
Sanctions and condemnations against Houthi terror tactics have been issued widely by the United States, European Union, and the United Nations. Western and regional military officials note that continued Houthi attacks on international shipping and Israeli territory have justified firm defensive action. The United States has bolstered air and naval support in the Red Sea, working directly with Israel and Arab partners to ensure safe passage through this vital global trade artery.
The region’s tensions remain high as Iran’s regional ambitions persist. The destruction of the Sana’a airport terminal—while a tactical blow to Houthi capabilities—also highlights the ongoing cost of Iran’s destabilizing policies. Israeli officials have reiterated that so long as Iranian-backed proxies threaten the security of Israeli citizens and global commerce, Israel will take necessary and proportionate measures in self-defense.
Legal and Moral Clarity
International law affirms Israel’s right to respond to imminent threats and to defend its borders and commercial lifelines from terror attacks. Israeli operations are focused on degrading military capacity while minimizing civilian harm, in deliberate contrast to the terror groups that seek to maximize civilian casualties for political and ideological purposes. Independent investigations by Western governments and the United Nations have consistently highlighted the Houthis’ violation of the laws of war, including targeting civilian infrastructure and international shipping.
Conclusion
The targeted destruction of Sana’a International Airport’s passenger terminal stands as a testament to Israel’s ongoing campaign against Iranian-backed terror proxies throughout the region. The incident underlines the enduring reality that, in the face of evolving insurgent tactics and cross-border threats, Israel and its partners must maintain readiness and moral clarity, prioritizing the protection of innocent lives and the restoration of security and free commerce across the Middle East.
As regional dynamics continue to shift, Israel’s actions regarding Iranian-backed threats in Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and beyond remain consistent with its right to self-defense and international norms of lawful warfare. The humanitarian consequences, while grave, are part of the broader tragedy inflicted by Iran’s determination to spread instability and terror by all available means.
