Houthis Accuse Saudi Arabia of Striking Sanaa Airport, Swear Retaliation

On Tuesday night, the Houthi rebels in Yemen announced that the capital’s main airport had been hit by a strike they say came from the Saudi‑led coalition. According to the group, the attack damaged the runway and a few terminal structures, but, thankfully, no one was killed or seriously injured.

“We have solid evidence that Saudi Arabia is behind this aggression,” a Houthi spokesperson told local media, his voice tinged with both anger and a weary resolve. He added that the strike was a clear attempt to intimidate the movement, and that the Houthis would not stand by and let it pass.

In a swift, almost rehearsed response, the Houthis vowed to retaliate. “Our forces are already preparing a decisive response that will target the perpetrators,” the spokesperson warned, hinting at possible air or ground operations against coalition assets.

Saudi officials, on the other hand, dismissed the accusation outright. A spokesperson for the Saudi‑UAE coalition said the allegations were “baseless” and that no Saudi aircraft had operated over Sanaa that night. The denial came in a brief statement that also reiterated the coalition’s “ongoing commitment to restore peace and stability in Yemen.”

The incident comes amid a long‑standing war that has raged for over eight years, a conflict that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. While the coalition says its strikes are aimed at Houthi military targets, the rebels argue that civilian infrastructure, like airports, schools and hospitals, is increasingly being caught in the crossfire.

International observers are watching closely. The United Nations has repeatedly called for a cease‑fire and warned that any escalation could plunge the fragile humanitarian situation into deeper crisis. Meanwhile, the United States, which supplies logistical support to the coalition, has so far remained silent on this particular allegation.

For now, the ground in Yemen remains tense. The Houthis have a history of launching retaliatory attacks—often using missiles or drones—against Saudi territory or coalition bases. Whether they will act on their latest promise, and what form that response will take, remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that each new strike adds another layer of complexity to an already convoluted war.