Israel bombs Yemen airport, wipes out Houthi air fleet

IDF strikes the Houthi-controlled Sanaa airport in Yemen for a second time following Houthi ballistic missile attacks on Israel.

By World Israel News Staff

Israeli warplanes struck a Houthi-controlled air travel hub in Yemen on Wednesday, more than three weeks after the first IDF strike on the airport.

The Israeli military confirmed in a statement that Israeli jets struck the Sanaa International Airport, located in the Houthi-dominated Yemeni capital city, a second time, following airstrikes in and around Sanaa on May 6.

“The IDF recently struck the main airport in Sanaa and aircraft belonging to the Houthi terrorist organization,” an IDF spokesperson said.

The Houthis used the aircraft destroyed in Wednesday’s strikes to transport terrorists involved in operations against Israel, the statement said.

“Similar to the Hudeidah and As-Salif ports, which were attacked last week, the main airport in Sanaa is regularly operated by the Houthi regime and used for terror purposes.”

“This is another example of the brutal use of civilian infrastructure by the Houthi terrorist organization for terrorist activities.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz (Likud) said that Wednesday’s strikes eliminated the last Houthi aircraft.

“IAF jets have just struck terror targets of the Houthi terrorist organization at the Sanaa airport and destroyed the last aircraft still used by the Houthis as part of Israel’s Operation ‘Golden Jewel.'”

“This is a clear message and a direct continuation of the policy we have set: whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price.”

Katz vowed that should the Houthis continue their missile attacks on Israel, the IDF will strike Yemeni port cities under Houthi control.

“The Houthi terrorist organization will be under naval and aerial blockade — as we promised and warned. Whoever harms us will be harmed sevenfold.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed Katz’s comments, threatening additional reprisals for future Houthi attacks.

“We work according to a simple rule: Whoever harms us, we harm them. Whoever does not understand this with force, will now understand it with greater force.”

“But, as I have said more than once: The Houthis are only the symptom. The main driving force behind them is Iran, which is responsible for the aggression emanating from Yemen.”

Wednesday’s airstrikes came without immediate prior warning, in contrast to the May 6 strike, which followed explicit warnings by the Israeli military, urging civilians to evacuate the area.

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