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Business
Yemen: Houthis Accuse Saudi Arabia of Striking Sanaa Airport
Herz — Business Desk · · 30s summary · 3 min read
The essentials
On July 13, 2026, the Houthis — an armed Shia movement controlling northwestern Yemen — accused Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa International Airport. The alleged strike aimed to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing, an aircraft that had previously transported Houthi officials to Tehran. The group issued threats of retaliation. This information initially came from a single source and had not been independently verified. The incident poses a risk to successive truces negotiated under UN mediation since 2022, which form the fragile framework of Yemeni peace.
- Alleged strike on Sanaa airport attributed to Saudi Arabia by the Houthis
- Target: an Iranian aircraft that transported Houthi officials to Tehran
- Houthis issued threats of retaliation
- Information came from a single source and was not independently verified
- Acute risk posed to UN-mediated truces in place since 2022
What we know
On July 13, 2026, the Houthis — officially Ansar Allah, a Yemeni armed and political movement with a dominant Zaydi orientation (a branch of Shia Islam) — accused Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa International Airport, Yemen's capital. The information, first reported by The New York Times and relayed by the Financial Times, had not yet been independently verified at the time of publication.
The alleged strike aimed to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing in Sanaa. This aircraft had previously transported Houthi officials to Tehran.
The Houthis issued threats of retaliation following this incident.
Context
The Houthis have controlled northwestern Yemen, including the capital Sanaa, since late 2014. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia formed an Arab military coalition to intervene and support the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
Iran provides material and military support to the Houthis. The alleged strike on July 13, 2026, illustrates this regional dimension: the aircraft targeted was Iranian and had been used to transport Houthi officials to Tehran.
Timeline
- September 2014 – March 2015The Houthis seize Sanaa (September 2014) and advance southward. In March 2015, Saudi Arabia forms an Arab coalition and intervenes militarily to halt their advance.
- April 2022A bi-weekly truce enters into force under UN mediation, the first lasting suspension of hostilities since the conflict began. Successive renewals have since constituted the fragile framework of Yemeni peace.
- July 13, 2026The Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. Threats of retaliation are issued.
What remains uncertain
At the time of initial publication, information about the strike came from a single source — The New York Times — and had not been independently verified.
The exact extent of damage to the airport and the official position of Saudi Arabia are not available in the sources consulted.
Stakes for the peace process
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