Saudi Arabia Launches Airstrikes on Yemen's Capital, Escalating Tensions with Houthi Rebels

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels who control northern Yemen have accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes on the capital’s international airport on Monday, testing the ceasefire between the kingdom and the militant group. The government of Yemen said the strikes were carried out in order to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. But Houthis have vowed to retaliate for the strike as the incident marks the first such escalation between Houthis and Riyadh, AP reported. A Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has been fighting the Houthis in the north for a long time. Houthi official Brigadier General Yahya Saree said Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes on Monday, ending a period of “de-escalation”, adding that “this aggression will not go unanswered or unpunished.” The development comes after tensions flared between the two sides this month when the Houthis accused planes from Saudi Arabia of breaching their airspace to prevent an Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation to Tehran for the funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a post on X, Yemen’s defence minister, Gen. Taher al-Aqili, informed that Sana’a International Airport’s runway was attacked on Monday, so that an Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation from the ex-supreme leader of Iran could not land. “At this moment, we say that our patience has run out. Accordingly, we will respond appropriately to this treacherous and brutal act, and we will confront and deal with the hostile aircraft violating Yemeni airspace and sovereignty by all available means,” Taher al-Aqili said. Houthis later said the plane was diverted to Hodeida Airport, where it landed safely. Video footage purportedly showing the strike on the Sana’a airport went viral on social media, allegedly showing a missile strike followed by a loud explosion.