Yemeni forces target Sanaa airport runway to prevent Iranian plane from landing

Al-Eqtisadiah from Riyadh

Monday, July 13, 2026 14:24 | 2 minutes read

Yemeni Defense Minister Taher Ali Aydha Al-Aqeeli delivers the statement

Smoke columns rise after runway shelling: Reuters

The Yemeni armed forces targeted the runway of Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, according to a televised statement on Monday.

The Yemeni army called on citizens to stay away from the airport and its vicinity, demanding its evacuation.

The Yemeni Cabinet approved the formation of a government team to manage the crisis and coordinate military and political efforts.

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council had expressed last Friday full readiness to resume national carrier flights to the Jordanian capital Amman, after an extraordinary meeting.

The meeting discussed a request submitted by Iran through the leadership of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, to operate a flight by Iran's Mahan Air from Tehran to Sanaa, to return Houthi elements previously transported from Sanaa airport on July 3.

Yemen had considered operating that flight at the time a violation of Yemen's sovereignty and a 'blatant' challenge to international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.

Yemeni Defense Minister Taher Ali Aydha Al-Aqeeli delivers the statement

Yemeni Armed Forces

Read also: Yemen expresses readiness to resume national carrier flights to Amman

During that meeting, the Yemeni Presidential Council reviewed government initiatives to ensure the continuation of civilian flights through Sanaa airport by Yemen Airways, the national carrier, foremost of which is operating regular flights between Sanaa and the Jordanian capital.

It said that Yemen Airways 'is fully ready to resume operating commercial flights from Sanaa airport to the Jordanian capital Amman, and to any other destinations agreed upon, once guarantees are provided to protect aircraft and their crews, and not to target them or interfere in the company's affairs and navigation operations,' according to the agency.

Smoke columns rise after runway shelling: Reuters

__2026-07-13T112720Z_1396340731_RC2YCMA3X1QQ_RTRMADP_3_IRAN-CRISIS-YEMEN-AIRPORT-1783942238

Read also: Saudi Arabia supports Yemen's electricity with oil derivatives worth $150 million

The council also discussed the possibility of repatriating Houthi elements via a plane chartered by Yemen Airways 'as the only national carrier, instead of relying on a foreign airline that serves the interests of the Houthi militias and those behind them.'

Read also: Saudi Arabia supports Yemen's budget with 224 million riyals

Definitions