Video: Saudi Arabia strikes Yemen airport to block Iranian flight, Houthis vow revenge | World News

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels who control northern Yemen have accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes on the capital’s international airport on Monday, testing the ceasefire between the kingdom and the militant group.
Strategic justification behind the aerial interception
The government of Yemen said the strikes were carried out in order to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. But Houthis have vowed to retaliate for the strike as the incident marks the first such escalation between Houthis and Riyadh, AP reported.

The moment Saudi airstrikes hit Sana’a International Airport. pic.twitter.com/syYhcpz7SK
— Ariel Oseran أريئل أوسيران (@ariel_oseran) July 13, 2026
Coalition operations and the breach of de-escalation
A Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has been fighting the Houthis in the north for a long time. Houthi official Brigadier General Yahya Saree said Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on Monday, ending a period of “de-escalation”, adding that “this aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished.”
This image taken from video broadcast Al-Masirah TV, a Houthi-controlled news channel, shows an explosion at the Sanaa International Airport compound during what the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said were several Saudi airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen. (AP)
Horical context of recent airspace disputes
The development comes after tensions flared between the two sides this month when the Houthis accused planes from Saudi Arabia of breaching their airspace to prevent an Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation to Tehran for the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
This image taken from video broadcast Al-Masirah TV, a Houthi-controlled news channel, shows a projectile striking the Sanaa International Airport compound during what the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said were several Saudi airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen. (AP)
Official minerial statement on target details
In a post on X, Yemen’s defence miner, Gen. Taher al-Aqili, informed that Sana’a International Airport’s runway was attacked on Monday, so that an Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation from the ex-supreme leader of Iran could not land.
Warnings of imminent retaliation and flight diversion
“At this moment, we say that our patience has run out. Accordingly, we will respond appropriately to this treacherous and brutal act, and we will confront and deal with the hostile aircraft violating Yemeni airspace and sovereignty all available means,” Taher al-Aqili said.
Houthis later said the plane was diverted to Hodeida Airport, where it landed safely. Video footage purportedly showing the strike on the Sana’a airport went viral on social media, allegedly showing a missile strike followed a loud explosion.