On Monday, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran, accused Saudi Arabia of destroying the airport in Sanaa, the occupied capital, and retaliating by launching missiles at Saudi targets in response to what they termed “blatant aggression.”
The Houthis, an Iranian-backed Islamist group, captured Sanaa and much of Yemen in 2014. Since then, Yemen has seen a drastic decline. The situation has transformed into one of the most severe humanitarian crises globally. The Houthis have been responsible for numerous human rights violations, including the recruitment of child soldiers and the kidnapping of humanitarian workers. Their slogan roughly translates to “God is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse the Jews, victory to Islam.”
In 2015, Saudi Arabia initiated a military intervention in support of the internationally recognized exiled government amid Yemen’s civil war. While the campaign faced criticism due to airstrikes resulting in significant civilian casualties, it succeeded in slowing the Houthis’ advance and preventing them from seizing the entire nation.
At the onset of his presidency, Joe Biden took the controversial step of removing the Houthis from the list of international terrorist organizations. Despite this, the Houthis have persistently conducted terrorist campaigns, blocking aid and using starvation against their adversaries.
Among their more notorious actions, the Houthis carried out over 100 attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea during the Gaza War, which had a notable impact on the global economy. After assuming the presidency again in 2025, Donald Trump promptly designated the Houthis as a terrorist organization once more.
Using Iranian cruise missiles and drones, the Houthis targeted civilians in Saudi Arabia between 2021 and 2022. In March 2022, an informal ceasefire was reached between the Saudi coalition and the Houthis.
While the Yemeni civil war had largely calmed following the UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022, a sudden escalation occurred this month when the Houthis launched a significant offensive against regions held by the exiled government.
The Houthis have also issued threats to attack Saudi Arabia if the country were to become engaged in civil war again. In response, Saudi Arabia has vowed to retaliate with “unprecedented force” if such an attack occurs.
On Sunday, Houthi media posted footage of an Iranian envoy visiting Sanaa to meet with rebel leaders. Concurrently, Iranian media revealed plans to commence regular flights between Tehran and Sanaa, with the Houthis lauding Iran for “breaking the blockade on Yemen.”
The exiled government, known as the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), expressed outrage over Iran’s actions, viewing them as a blatant violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and a dangerous escalation in the civil war.
On Monday, as a Houthi delegation was returning from the funeral of Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei, explosions erupted at Sanaa airport. Reports suggest that the PLC ordered the attack, which involved ballistic missiles and drones.
According to the People’s Liberation Army Ministry of Defense, “The Iranian regime-backed Houthi terrorist militia blocked a Yemeni national airline from landing at Sanaa airport under the pretense of airspace violations. Hence, the runway was targeted.”
PLC Defense Minister General Taher al-Aqili remarked in a video statement before the airport assault, “Our patience has run out, and we will respond decisively to this treacherous act, confronting any hostile aircraft violating our airspace.”
Another official from the People’s Liberation Army, Council President Rashad al-Alimi, noted that Iran’s request to take the Houthi delegation back to Sanaa was denied. He criticized the Houthis for disregarding PLC authority and permitting flights “outside the legal framework of civil aviation.”
Yemen’s UN ambassador, Abdullah Al Saadi, spoke to the UN Security Council, accusing the aircraft from Tehran of being linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), classified as a terrorist organization, and laden with military personnel and equipment.
Saadi indicated that the PLC had proposed air transport for the Houthi delegation’s return from Iran, but this offer was turned down.
The Houthis have attributed the airport attack to Saudi forces, insisting they would make Saudi Arabia “bear the consequences of this invasion.”
A spokesperson claimed that the aircraft aiming to land in Sanaa was carrying the returning Houthi delegation from Khamenei’s funeral alongside “numerous medical patients and stranded nationals.” They managed to land safely at an alternative airport in Hodeidah.
Iran condemned the airport assault as a “clear violation of international law” and an affront to Yemen’s sovereignty.
Following the Sanaa bombing, the Houthis acted on their vows to retaliate, as the Saudi coalition intercepted several ballistic missiles from Yemen targeting southern Saudi regions, including Abha International Airport.
Additionally, the Houthis threatened to attack civilian aircraft over Saudi Arabia and issued a warning to international airlines against flying over Saudi airspace until the blockade of Sanaa airport ends.
Senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukaiti, part of the delegation attending Khamenei’s funeral, suggested, “Close Saudi airports just like Sanaa was closed.” He implied that the recent attacks justified the Houthis’ right to target and besiege Saudi airports.
A military analyst remarked that while the PLC might control enough missiles and aircraft to strike the airstrip in Sanaa, it seems that Saudi cooperation was likely involved. Salman Al-Ansari, a Saudi geopolitical analyst, contended that Saudi Arabia was not directly participating.
He depicted the actions as a legitimate governmental response to protect its airspace and sovereignty, asserting that the Houthis could have followed an agreed route through Jordanian airports for inspections.
Currently, the Houthis are in a precarious position, especially as Yemen’s legitimate government consolidates control over more than 80% of the country—a significant shift from the past, where the government existed as two opposing factions.
In confronting the Houthis, Yemen’s legitimate government aims not only to uphold its sovereignty but also to safeguard the region and the wider world against the Iranian proxy network.
Yemen expert Nadwa al-Dawsari believes Iran’s flight to Sanaa symbolizes regional power ambitions and should be halted.
“By proceeding with Mahan Air flight despite Yemeni opposition, Iran signals its intent to normalize relations with Houthi-controlled Yemen and defy restrictions established since 2015,” she noted.
Mahan Air, an Iranian airline, is sanctioned by the U.S. for aiding the Revolutionary Guard.
Al-Dawsari emphasized that Iran is keen on supporting the Houthis to maintain Yemen’s control, especially as many of its other proxies in the region have weakened recently.
It’s possible that Iran hopes Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping will increase economic pressure globally, akin to its strategy in the Strait of Hormuz.
As of Monday, the U.S. State Department stated it was “aware of the situation,” reaffirming its commitment to stand with Saudi Arabia against Iranian aggression, including actions by the Iranian-aligned Houthis.
A spokesperson reiterated the ongoing commitment to enforce the designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and condemned Iran’s overt violation of Yemeni sovereignty in our support of Houthi forces.
