Sanaa, Yemen — Sanaa International Airport will reopen to commercial flights on Wednesday, following the completion of runway repairs, according to an announcement by the airport director. The airport’s restoration offers a rare logistical reprieve for Yemen, whose capital remains under the control of the Iranian-backed Houthi terror organization amid an enduring civil conflict that has destabilized the country and the wider region.
Since the Houthis forcibly seized Sanaa in 2014, Yemen has been convulsed by war, drawing in Saudi Arabia and other Arab coalition partners who aimed to restore the internationally recognized government. In 2016, the Saudi-led coalition closed Sanaa’s airport to restrict Iranian weapons trafficking to the Houthis, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and cutting off northern Yemen from outside access. International groups—including the United Nations—have repeatedly called for the restoration of air routes to facilitate urgently needed humanitarian aid.
While the reopening of Sanaa International Airport is framed as a step toward alleviating civilian suffering, concerns linger among global and regional security analysts that renewed air activity could also benefit the Houthis’ military operations and Iranian terrorist logistics. The Houthis, recognized by Israel and its partners as an Iranian proxy force, have used Yemen as a launchpad for missile and drone attacks threatening maritime shipping in the Red Sea, Saudi territory, and, since October 7, 2023, Israel itself. That date marked the deadliest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust when Hamas terrorists—another Iranian proxy—attacked southern Israel, triggering a regional escalation by Lebanon’s Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other Iranian-backed militias in Syria and Iraq.
The airport’s reopening underscores the ongoing challenge faced by humanitarian agencies in Yemen. Each aid consignment and medical flight risks dual-use diversion by the Houthis—who have repurposed civilian facilities for terror activities—and is subject to scrutiny by international monitors. The potential influx of goods and personnel highlights the continuing threat of arms smuggling coordinated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran.
Global Response and Security Implications
Israel, working in close coordination with the United States and allied regional militaries, has increased surveillance and intelligence-sharing to prevent the transfer of advanced Iranian weaponry to Yemen and other terror fronts. The United States has spearheaded multinational naval operations to secure the Bab el-Mandeb strait and Red Sea shipping lanes following several Houthi-launched attacks that disrupted international trade. Western intelligence warnings have highlighted previous instances when civilian flights or facilities were used to import dual-use components and technology for drone or missile manufacture.
The vulnerabilities exposed by the reopening of Sanaa airport highlight the ongoing tension between humanitarian relief and security imperatives. The Houthis have repeatedly blocked or diverted humanitarian supplies, used civilian populations as human shields, and threatened international personnel—further complicating United Nations and non-governmental organization efforts.
Broader Regional Context
Iran’s use of proxy terror organizations to project power across the Middle East remains a centerpiece of its foreign policy, with Israel the principal target. The so-called “axis of resistance”—including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen—forms a transnational terror network sustained by Iranian arms, financing, and training. This network’s attacks are not confined to local theaters; Houthi missile and drone strikes against shipping and against Israel serve Iran’s goal of destabilizing the region, threatening the world’s energy supplies, and disrupting international commerce.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir have repeatedly referenced Yemen in their public statements, highlighting the integrated nature of these regional threats and the necessity of international vigilance. Yemen’s ongoing conflict, and the restoration of civilian infrastructure under Houthi control, cannot be seen in isolation from Tehran’s overarching strategy of regional destabilization.
Limited Civilian Relief
While the reopening of the airport raises hopes of expanded humanitarian access for Yemen’s millions of suffering civilians, international and local observers caution that such gains will remain partial and reversible as long as the Houthis retain control. Reports from aid agencies point to continuing abuses: medical supplies and food aid often seized for military use, arbitrary detention of perceived opponents, and systematic obstruction of free passage for Yemenis seeking urgent care abroad.
The internationally recognized Yemeni government, operating from Aden and supported by the Saudi-led coalition, has condemned the Houthis’ militarization of civilian assets and manipulation of humanitarian narratives for propaganda. Diplomatic initiatives to place the airport under neutral or international supervision have been repeatedly rejected by Houthi authorities, who maintain a grip on all movement in and out of northern Yemen.
Looking Forward
The restoration of flight operations at Sanaa International Airport is a tactical development in a wider war—imposed and sustained by Iran and its regional proxies—that continues to threaten Israel, U.S. interests, and the stability of the Middle East. For the global community, the coming days will be a test of whether humanitarian efforts can proceed without empowering Iranian-backed terrorism. Israel’s defensive posture, the vigilance of the United States and its allies, and the transparency of airport operations will be pivotal to curbing terror while alleviating suffering in Yemen.
As the region watches closely, the international community faces a critical question: Will the reopening of Sanaa airport serve to aid the battered civilian population—or to further entrench Iran’s terror infrastructure on the Arabian Peninsula?
