‘They Are Potential Targets’: Houthi President Threatens Civilian Aircraft After Sanaa Airport Struck

Latest Developments

Houthi Planes Destroyed: Israeli fighter jets destroyed the last aircraft operated by Houthi rebels in a strike on Sanaa International Airport in Yemen on May 28. The strike came one day after the Iran-backed terrorist group launched two missiles at Israel. The IDF said the aircraft were used by the Houthis to transfer “terrorists who planned terrorist attacks against Israel,” while the Houthis claimed the planes had been used to transport “pilgrims.”
Israel Imposes Naval and Aerial Blockade: Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said that Israel would impose a naval and aerial blockade on the Houthis, warning, “anyone who harms us will be harmed sevenfold.” The Houthi-controlled airport, Yemen’s largest, resumed limited operations last week following IDF strikes on May 6 that destroyed the airport’s runway, terminals, and aircraft. The strikes, which caused approximately $500 million in damage, came as a response to a Houthi-launched ballistic missile hitting Ben Gurion Airport a day earlier.
Houthi President Threatens Civilian Airlines: Houthi President Mahdi al-Mashat fumed as he surveyed the damage, issuing a threat to civilian airlines flying in and out of Israel. “We call on all travelers worldwide to avoid boarding aircraft still flying to Ben Gurion Airport, as they are potential targets and no longer safe,” Mashat declared. He also threatened Israel’s civilian population, stating, “Our missiles will either hit their designated targets — or strike randomly selected ones.”

FDD Expert Response

“Israel’s response against the Houthis may seem limited in scope, given the operational complexity of the mission. However, the seemingly underwhelming response may mask other motives. The Israeli Air Force has spent years preparing for a potential strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure — an operation that would require precision over a significant distance. In this context, the strike in Sanaa could serve a dual purpose: to incur a cost on the Houthis for their repeated attacks on Israel and as a live rehearsal for a future air operation against Iran.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst and Editor at FDD’s Long War Journal

“In response to near-daily missiles and rockets from the Houthis, Israel continues to strike Houthi ports and the Sanaa airport. Dismantling these points of connection to outside support is crucial to preventing or at least slowing the Houthis’ rebuilding efforts. The United States and its partners should support measures to isolate the group by disconnecting its financial system from international banking, sanctioning Houthi leaders and Houthi-controlled businesses, and interrupting the Houthis’ smuggling routes. If the Houthis are allowed to rebuild their arsenal, as they and their Iranian backers intend, they will persist as a threat to the commercial shipping in the Red Sea, to Israel, and to American interests.” — Bridget Toomey, Research Analyst