Tension rises as Yemen govt attacks Sanaa airport

Fears of a fresh outbreak of violence in Yemen are rising after the internationally recognised government attacked Sanaa airport to stop an Iranian aircraft from landing and Houthi rebels fired ballistic missiles.

The government forces bombed the runway at the airport on Monday to prevent the landing of a plane carrying a delegation of Houthis arriving from Iran. The rebel group later launched missiles at Saudi Arabia, whose coalition backs the government. The strikes have raised concern that a fresh wave of violence could be unleashed.

“The Houthi terrorist militia, supported by the Iranian regime, prevented Yemeni national aircraft from landing at the capital’s airport, Sanaa, and insisted that the Iranian aircraft violate Yemeni airspace. Therefore, the airport runway was targeted,” the government said in a statement on Monday.

Earlier, the Defence Ministry warned civilians, workers, diplomatic missions and humanitarian organisations to immediately evacuate the airport and its surroundings until further notice.

The Houthis ⁠later said that they had carried out ⁠a military operation targeting ⁠Abha International Airport with ballistic missiles and drones in response in southern Saudi Arabia.