A significant escalation in the long-standing conflict in Yemen unfolded on Monday, July 13, 2026, as Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a series of missiles and drones targeting Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport. This military action was described by the Houthis as a direct response to earlier airstrikes that struck Sanaa International Airport, which the rebels blamed on Saudi Arabia. While no casualties were reported in the exchange, the events represent the most severe escalation between the two sides since a period of relative calm began following a U.N.-brokered truce in 2022.
The situation at Sanaa International Airport was captured in video footage broadcast by the Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV, which appeared to show a projectile striking the airport runway, followed by a loud explosion. Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree issued a formal warning via Telegram, cautioning international airlines against flying through Saudi airspace. He stated that these warnings should be taken seriously until the blockade on Sanaa International Airport is lifted, adding that the alleged Saudi aggression would not go unanswered or unpunished.
The internationally recognized government of Yemen offered a different perspective on the morning's events. Officials stated that the strikes on the Sanaa airport runway were a deliberate measure intended to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. Yemen’s defense minister, Gen. Taher al-Aqili, confirmed in a post on X that the runway was targeted to stop an Iranian aircraft from returning a Houthi delegation that had traveled to Tehran for the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Prior to the strikes, al-Aqili had released a video statement warning against the infiltration of Yemeni airspace by Iranian aircraft.
Rashad al-Alimi, who leads Yemen’s ruling Presidential Leadership Council, explained that Iran had requested permission to operate a flight via Mahan Air to return the Houthi delegation to Sanaa. The council denied this request, stating that the Houthis had insisted on receiving the flight outside of the legal and sovereign frameworks that govern civil aviation. Despite the runway damage, reports indicated that the Iranian plane was eventually diverted to Hodeida Airport, where it successfully landed.
Following the day's developments, the government in the south issued a statement declaring that all airports in Yemen were closed until further notice, effective immediately. The Yemeni defense ministry also issued orders to evacuate the Sanaa airport and its surrounding areas. Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, the official spokesperson for the Saudi-led Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, stated on X that Saudi air defenses had successfully dealt with ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis toward the southern region, though he provided no further details.
The international community expressed immediate concern regarding the potential for a broader regional conflict. During an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Monday afternoon, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for political affairs Khaled Khiari warned that the region cannot afford another cycle of escalation and urged all involved actors to engage in constructive negotiations under U.N. auspices. U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, also released a statement confirming that his office is monitoring the situation and calling on all parties to preserve the relative calm that has characterized the region since 2022.
Yemen’s civil war has persisted since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen, forcing the government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition, which previously included the United Arab Emirates, intervened in 2015 to restore the government to power. Tensions between the coalition partners had risen earlier this year, eventually leading to the UAE pulling out of the conflict. The recent flare-up follows a period of heightened friction earlier this month, during which the Houthis alleged that Saudi planes violated their airspace to prevent the Iranian flight from transporting their delegation.
