Overview
- Yemen’s internationally recognised government said its forces struck the runway at Sanaa International Airport on Monday to prevent an Iranian civilian aircraft carrying Houthi delegates, patients and stranded Yemenis from landing.
- Houthi spokesmen blamed Saudi Arabia for the airport strikes, declared the end of the 2022 de‑escalation phase and vowed retaliation for what they called a blatant aggression.
- The government ordered all airports in Yemen closed immediately and Defence Minister Taher al‑Aqili said forces would respond to what he described as an Iranian and Houthi breach of Yemeni airspace.
- Houthi media later reported the Iranian plane landed at Al Hudaydah and government officials accused the Houthis of detaining an ICRC aircraft and holding its crew, claims that remain under verification.
- The episode risks wider regional spillover because it touches Iran–Houthi ties and Saudi security concerns, threatens humanitarian flights and evacuations, and has prompted UN calls for urgent de‑escalation.