Airliners destroyed as airstrike disables Yemen’s main airport
May 7, 2025
Three aircraft of the Yemeni flag carrier (including two A320s and an A330) were caught up in the conflagration ensuing when the Israeli military launched its second attack against Houthi rebels in the Houthi-controlled capital of Sana’a.
“The Israeli bombing of Sana’a airport destroyed three aircraft… that had been hijacked by the militia,” said the airline in a statement. “We hold the militia responsible for the destruction of three of our aircraft at Sana’a airport and the resulting losses. The destruction of our aircraft at Sana’a airport deepens the challenges and represents a huge and devastating loss”.
The airstrike (which also targeted several power plants in and around the Sana’a area) was carried out in retaliation against a Houthi missile attack near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport two days prior. Writing on social media, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated its belief that “the airport served as a central hub for the Houthi terrorist regime to transfer weapons and operatives”. It added that “the strikes were carried out with precision, and steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure”.
Yemenia Airways told national outlet the Yemen Monitor that its remaining aircraft at Jordan’s Queen Alia Airport will “contribute to mitigating the effects of this crisis on passengers”. The airport’s director general Khaled al-Shalef added that all services were suspended indefinitely, telling Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV that it will take “a long time to rehabilitate the airport”. Footage on Twitter shared by EOC-News appears to show extensive damage to an area of buildings, while a bulldozer begins to clear rubble.
IMAGE CREDITS: SABA
