Yemeni strikes hit Houthi-held Sanaa airport to block Iranian plane: Defence Ministry

In Yemen on 13 July 2026, strikes hit the Houthi-held Sanaa airport, which Yemen's Defence Ministry said was to block an Iranian plane. Accounts differ on who carried out the strikes: the Yemeni government said it hit the airport, while Jerusalem Post and Haaretz reported Saudi Arabia struck it, and the Houthis blamed Riyadh. An Iranian plane carrying a Houthi delegation landed in Yemen's Hudaydah despite the strikes.

The Houthis fired ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia, including at Abha airport, in what Reuters called a break in years of calm. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted the missiles. Yemen said the Saudi strike ended the de-escalation phase, the Houthis vowed retaliation, and the Wall Street Journal wrote that the fighting threatens to pull the Houthis into the Iran war.