Israeli Air Force fighter jets conducted targeted airstrikes on the Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport in Yemen on Wednesday, in direct response to the Iran-backed group’s escalating missile and drone attacks on Israel.
The operation, which involved Israeli fighter jets, aerial refueling tankers, and reconnaissance aircraft, was the latest in a series of retaliatory actions against the Houthis, who have launched at least seven ballistic missiles and multiple drones toward Israel since the last Israeli strike on May 16. The latest missile was fired Tuesday morning. وزير الدفاع الإسرائيلي يسرائيل كاتس يعلن شن سلاح الجو هجوماً على مطار صنعاء في اليمن مشيراً إلى تدمير آخر طائرة للحوثيين فيما أكد مواصلة استهداف المطار "مراراً وتكراراً" pic.twitter.com/Z1IY3diLFu
In a statement issued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the military confirmed that the strikes hit key infrastructure at the airport, including an aircraft allegedly used by the Houthis to transport operatives involved in attacks on Israeli targets. According to Defense Minister Israel Katz, the aircraft destroyed on Wednesday was the last operational plane in Houthi possession. The remainder of their fleet was eliminated in a prior Israeli airstrike on May 6, which reportedly destroyed the airport’s terminal, six aircraft, and rendered the runway temporarily unusable.
"Similar to the ports of Hodeida and Salif that were struck last week, the main airport in Sanaa is routinely operated by the Houthi regime and serves its terror purposes," the IDF said. "This is another example of the cruel use made by the Houthi terror organization of civilian infrastructure for terror activities."
Minister Katz further emphasized the message behind the operation: “Anyone who fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price. The airport in Sanaa will be destroyed again and again, as will other strategic infrastructures used by the Houthi terror organization and its supporters. They will remain under both naval and aerial blockade, as we have pledged.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, stating: “We operate by a simple principle: Anyone who harms us — we will harm them. The Houthis are just a symptom. The main power behind them is Iran, which is responsible for the aggression emanating from Yemen.”
The Houthis, who began launching missiles at Israel in November 2023 following the October 7 Hamas attacks, have continued their offensive despite intermittent ceasefires. While hostilities briefly halted during the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in January 2025, they resumed in March as Israel renewed its operations in Gaza. Since March 18, the Houthis have fired 41 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones at Israeli territory. Several of these projectiles have reportedly fallen short of their targets.
The group’s rhetoric and actions remain uncompromising. Their slogan continues to call for “Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the Jews,” underscoring the ideological hostility that fuels their operations.
Israeli defense officials maintain that their strategy aims to systematically degrade the Houthis’ capacity to launch cross-border attacks, while sending a broader message to Tehran and its regional proxies. The current escalation marks one of the most significant military engagements between Israel and a Yemeni faction to date.
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