Image: The New Arab Staff · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Yemen's government strikes Sana'a airport runway to block Iranian Mahan Air flight
Yemen's Saudi-backed government targeted Sana'a International Airport's runway to prevent a Mahan Air flight from Iran carrying Houthi officials from landing, heightening conflict tensions.
The gist
Yemen’s government bombed Sana’a airport runway to stop Iranian Mahan Air plane carrying Houthi officials amid ongoing conflict.
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On July 13, 2026, Yemen’s internationally recognized government launched an attack on the runway at Sana’a International Airport aimed at preventing a Mahan Air flight originating from Iran from landing. Sana’a International Airport serves Yemen’s capital, currently controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi movement. The operation interrupted the Iranian airline’s planned flight carrying Houthi representatives returning from Tehran.
The Iranian carrier Mahan Air had arranged a flight to repatriate a Houthi delegation that had traveled to Iran for the funeral rites of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. After the strike rendered Sana’a’s runway unusable, the Airbus A340-300 flight diverted to Hodeidah Airport located on Yemen’s Red Sea coast, where it safely landed. Officials on both sides of the conflict confirmed this diversion.
The Yemeni government, operating from Aden in the south, publicly rejected Iran’s request for permission to allow the Mahan Air flight into Sana’a. Yemen’s Defense Minister Taher al-Aqili stated that diplomatic endeavors to prevent the flight’s arrival through formal means were unsuccessful, prompting the decision to target the runway militarily. The government accused the Houthis of attempting to import the aircraft without authorization.
The Houthi movement, which controls Sana’a, condemned the attack, attributing it to Saudi Arabia and vowing retaliation. Saudi officials have not confirmed involvement. Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah television broadcast footage depicting explosions and strikes within the airport complex. The Houthis claimed more than 200 passengers, including patients, were onboard the inbound flight, which they say Saudi air activity sought to obstruct.
This incident represents the most intense escalation in years between the Houthi forces and the government backed by Saudi Arabia. Since the 2022 truce, fighting had significantly diminished, though a permanent peace settlement had not materialized. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree declared that the strike marked an end to the period of de-escalation and promised a response.
Following the runway strike, Yemen’s government temporarily closed all airports in the country, resuming operations only hours later. Presidential Leadership Council leader Rashad al-Alimi revealed an offer to return Houthi officials on a Yemenia Airlines flight, which the Houthis declined in favor of the Iranian one. This refusal precipitated the runway attack.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg expressed concern over the growing tensions and the possibility of a broader conflict. He urged both parties to maintain the relative calm established since the 2022 ceasefire. Meanwhile, Yemen’s government announced it would employ all necessary measures against unauthorized aircraft and held Iran accountable for repeated breaches of Yemeni airspace.
Details regarding the specific aircraft registration or weapons used to disable the Sana’a runway remain undisclosed by authorities. Nonetheless, the event significantly compounds the conflict dynamics in Yemen, illustrating the role of airspace control in the ongoing proxy and civil conflict within the country.
Frequently asked questions
- Why did Yemen’s government strike the runway at Sana’a International Airport?
- The government struck the runway to prevent a Mahan Air flight from Iran carrying Houthi officials from landing without authorization during a period of heightened tensions.
- What was the destination change for the Mahan Air flight after the runway strike?
- After the runway was damaged, the Mahan Air Airbus A340-300 diverted and landed at Hodeidah Airport on Yemen’s Red Sea coast instead of Sana’a.
- What has been the reaction of the Houthi movement to the airport attack?
- The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out the attack, warned of retaliation, and said the strike ended the period of de-escalation in the conflict with Yemen’s government.
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Global Aviation Round-Up from Aircraft Value Intelligence (AVN) File photo Editor's Note: To watch a video report that concisely examines the themes of this article, click here . Geopolitical flashpoints have a way of upending the market’s priorities. Investors may spend weeks focused on inflation, interest rates, or corporate earnings, only to have an overseas conflict suddenly dominate trading. On Wall Street, the phenomenon is known as "headline risk." The latest example is unfolding in the Middle East. Renewed friction between the United States and Iran is putting the Strait of Hormuz back in the spotlight, injecting fresh uncertainty into global financial markets. One sector particularly hard hit is aviation. Last week at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, President Trump declared that the Iran cease fire was "over." Subsequently, on July 13, Trump announced that the U.S. would be "taking over" the Strait of Hormuz and reinstating its naval blockade on Iran. 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