Escalation between Houthi rebels and Yemeni government over Sanaa airport strike

On Monday, forces belonging to the internationally recognized Yemeni government conducted airstrikes targeting the runway at Sanaa International Airport. The government stated the action was intended to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing at the facility, which is currently under Houthi control. The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, condemned the strike as an act of aggression and vowed retaliation. Following the incident, the Houthi movement claimed it launched missiles toward Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition reported that its air defenses successfully intercepted the missiles, resulting in no reported casualties. This incident marks a significant escalation in a conflict that has caused over 150,000 deaths and severe humanitarian crises since 2014. Despite an informal truce that has largely persisted since 2022, regional tensions continue to impact the stability of the region.