Saudi Arabia bombards Sanaa airport, ending Yemen ceasefire with Houthi rebels

On 13 July 2026 Saudi Arabian air forces struck the runway of Sanaa's airport in Yemen, damaging the take‑off and landing strip and stopping an Iranian passenger aircraft from landing in the capital, which is controlled by the Houthi militia. The attack broke a four‑year cease‑fire between Riyadh and the Houthi forces and opened a new front in the broader Iran‑Saudi rivalry.

The Houthi fighters subsequently fired rockets toward Saudi Arabia; the kingdom said its air defences intercepted them. Saudi officials, backed by U.S. diplomats, confirmed the operation, and the Saudi crown prince pledged continued support for the campaign. The incident raises concerns about possible blockades of the Bab al‑Mandab strait and the Red Sea shipping lane, which could affect global trade routes through the Suez Canal.

The renewed fighting adds to the humanitarian toll of Yemen's decade‑long war, which the UN estimates has caused over 370 000 deaths, mainly from famine and infrastructure collapse.