This satellite image taken by Maxar Technologies on April 10, 2025, and released on May 7, 2025, shows planes on the tarmac of Sanaa International Airport in Yemen. (Credit: AFP/Maxar.)
The airport in Sanaa, controlled by the Houthi rebels in Yemen, resumed its activities on Saturday, about ten days after being bombed by the Israeli army, announced the Houthi authorities.
The airport of the Yemeni capital, which has only hosted a connection of the national airline Yemenia with Amman since 2022, as well as humanitarian flights operated by the U.N., was targeted during the night of May 6 to 7 by Israeli strikes, carried out in retaliation for these pro-Iranian insurgents' attacks on Israel. Houthis then claimed that the airport had been "completely destroyed," reporting $500 million in losses. "We are resuming today (Saturday) flights from and to Sanaa airport," said the deputy minister of transport in the Houthi administration, Yahya al-Sayani, on the rebels’ media al-Massirah TV.
The channel had earlier announced the arrival of the "first flight of the company Yemenia with 136 passengers on board," while the airport published videos on its Facebook account of the landing of the aircraft and passengers in a terminal still under construction.
Since 2022, the Yemeni company has only ensured a regular connection with the Jordanian capital, with the airport subject to a blockade imposed by a Saudi-led military coalition that supports the Yemeni government against the rebels since 2015. According to the Houthi official, the authorities intend to ensure two daily connections "in the coming days."
Supported by Iran, Israel's sworn enemy, the Houthis have carried out dozens of missile and drone attacks against Israel, since the beginning of the war in Gaza, claiming to act in solidarity with the Palestinians. They have also targeted ships they believe are linked to Israel off Yemen. In response, the Israeli army has carried out several strikes in regions under their control.
On Friday, it targeted ports in the west of the country, killing one and injuring eleven, according to the Houthis, bringing the total death toll from Israeli strikes in Yemen to 33, according to an AFP count based on announcements from the rebels.