Saudi-led Coalition Strikes Sanaa International Airport in Renewed Airstrikes

SANAA — Saudi Arabian warplanes launched a series of airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport early Sunday, marking the most significant aerial assault on Yemen's capital infrastructure since 2015. The attacks targeted runways and terminal facilities at dawn local time, temporarily halting all commercial and humanitarian flights into the city.

Footage captured from within the airport perimeter shows thick plumes of black smoke rising from the tarmac as explosions rocked the main concourse area. Debris was scattered across the runway threshold, rendering it unusable for immediate takeoffs or landings. Emergency vehicles were seen rushing toward the blast sites amidst chaotic scenes at the entrance gates.

The strikes occurred without prior warning to airport authorities or passengers waiting in terminal buildings. No official statement has been issued by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense regarding the operation, nor have Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for any specific provocation that might have triggered the retaliation. The timing and precise military objectives behind the raids remain unclear as ground crews assess structural damage.

Sanaa International Airport serves as a critical lifeline for humanitarian aid entering northern Yemen, where millions rely on food and medical supplies delivered through air corridors. The disruption threatens to delay urgent shipments of fuel, medicine, and emergency rations scheduled for arrival later in the week. Local airport officials reported that all flights were grounded indefinitely pending safety inspections.

Civilian casualties have not been confirmed at this stage, though witnesses near the perimeter described hearing multiple detonations within a ten-minute window. Some residents living in neighborhoods bordering the airfield reported shaking windows and falling debris from nearby buildings following the initial blasts.

The conflict between Saudi-led coalition forces and Houthi rebels has seen intermittent flare-ups over the past year, but direct strikes on major civilian infrastructure have been rare since 2018. Previous attempts to negotiate a ceasefire in late 2025 collapsed after both sides accused each other of violating truce terms.

Regional diplomats are calling for immediate restraint as tensions escalate across Red Sea shipping lanes and internal Yemeni borders. The United Nations has urged all parties involved to protect civilian assets and maintain humanitarian access points under international law.

As smoke continued to billow from the damaged terminal late Sunday, questions remain about whether further strikes are planned or if this marks a new phase in the decades-long war. International observers await confirmation on flight resumption timelines and potential diplomatic responses from neighboring Arab states.