Yemen govt. hits Sanaa airport, Houthis fire missiles at Saudi Abha
On 13 July 2026 the internationally recognized Yemeni government, backed by Saudi Arabia, struck the runway at Sanaa International Airport—controlled by the Iran‑backed Houthi militia—to prevent a Mahan Air aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. The government said the action was needed to stop an unauthorised Iranian flight from violating Yemeni airspace; the Houthis described the strike as a Saudi attack.
The Iranian plane was diverted to Hodeidah, but the Houthis said they would retaliate. Within hours they launched ballistic missiles and drones toward Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport and the nearby King Khalid air base, temporarily halting civil flights. Saudi‑led coalition forces reported intercepting the missiles with air‑defence systems.
Both sides exchanged accusations. A Houthi spokesperson, Yahya Saree, warned that “the aggression will not go unanswered,” while Yemeni Defence Minister Taher al‑Aqili said the government would use “all available means” against unauthorised aircraft. Iran condemned the Yemeni strike as a breach of international law, and the United Nations special envoy for Yemen called for de‑escalation, warning that the episode could widen the regional conflict.