Sanaa (South24 Center)

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Houthi-affiliated media reported Wednesday that four Israeli airstrikes targeted the runway at Sanaa International Airport and a Yemenia Airways aircraft. The Israeli military confirmed strikes on what it called "Houthi terrorist targets".

Local sources confirmed the destroyed aircraft was the last remaining Yemenia plane held by the Houthis, following Israel's May 6 destruction of three other aircraft from the same carrier. The plane had been scheduled for Yemeni pilgrim flights from Sanaa to Saudi Arabia.

The Israeli military stated it conducted strikes on Sanaa airport targeting a Houthi-operated aircraft allegedly used to transport terrorists who conducted operations against Israel. Israeli media reported 10 warplanes participated in Wednesday's attack.

International agencies and Israeli media circulated footage showing a burning aircraft with emergency vehicles nearby on the runway. South24 Center could not independently verify the footage.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared: We struck Sanaa airport based on our principle—those who harm us will be harmed, adding: Those who don't understand through force will understand through greater force, according to Sky News Arabia TV.

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned: Yemen's ports will continue suffering severe damage, Sanaa airport will be repeatedly destroyed, along with other Houthi strategic infrastructure,as he vowed sevenfold retaliation for any attacks, according to Channel 13.

Senior Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti countered: Israelis shouldn't celebrate - you'll pay for every crime in this life before the next, reaffirming continued military operations supporting Gaza until Israel's "aggression stops".

#BREAKING
Video circulated by residents in #Sanaa shows thick fire after a Yemenia plane caught fire following Israeli airstrike on #airport Wednesday#south24pic.twitter.com/d9f219jkdX

— South24 | English (@South24E) May 28, 2025

Hamas and Palestinian factions condemned the Sanaa airport attack.

The strikes follow Tuesday's Houthi announcement of dual attacks on Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport using a "Palestine-2" hypersonic missile and a "Zulfiqar" ballistic missile targeting vital infrastructure east of Tel Aviv.

This exchange marks escalating tit-for-tat strikes between Israel and the Iran-backed Houthis, who have positioned themselves as part of Tehran's "Axis of Resistance" against Israel.