Yemen: Heavy Airstrikes on Sanaa Airport Spark Fears of Renewed Conflict

Yemen's capital, Sanaa, was rocked by heavy airstrikes on Monday, with the Houthi movement swiftly blaming Saudi Arabia for the attack. Yahya Saree, the Houthi spokesperson, declared the strikes an "unjust and blatant aggression" and vowed that "the enemy will pay for this." He added, "This will not go unanswered." While Saree directed his anger at Saudi Arabia, the kingdom has not yet commented on the incident. The internationally recognized Yemeni government, supported by Saudi Arabia, has claimed responsibility for the operation, though its capacity to conduct such strikes is questioned.

The airstrikes followed a dispute over an Iranian Mahan Air flight en route to Sanaa. The Houthi, allied with Iran, have been pushing for such flights, while the Saudi-backed coalition has sought to prevent them. The plane was forced to divert to the port city of Hodeida due to the shelling. This incident is particularly concerning as a fragile ceasefire has been in place between Riyadh and the Houthi rebels since 2022, ending a years-long civil war. The Saudi air force, alongside the United Arab Emirates, had previously fought on behalf of the Yemeni government against the Houthi.

The Houthi movement, which seized control of northern Yemen in 2015, officially declared a general mobilization last week. Recent ground clashes have also been reported south of Hodeida between Houthi fighters and government troops. These developments fuel fears that the frozen conflict could reignite, potentially drawing the region into further instability.