Israeli Military Hits Sana’a Airport, Destroying Two Airbus A320s and One A330

The Houthi rebels recently lost three out of their four aircraft, including two Airbus A320s and one A330, due to Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s primary airport. All airline and airport employees had been evacuated before the strikes, leaving no human fatalities.

The airstrikes, launched on Tuesday, May 6, looked to destroy three civilian planes, the departure area, the runway, and a military air base at Sana’a International Airport (SAH) in Yemen. The Houthis reportedly utilize the field to “transfer weapons and operatives.” Several other targets were hit in the city, including power stations and cement factories.

This airport was used to serve domestic and international commercial flights through Yemenia Airlines. With it now being completely disabled, the carrier will likely shift operations to Aden International Airport (ADE).

A Yemenia Airlines employee confirmed that all workers “had left before the strikes were carried out,” and “the only aircraft that survived the bombing was a Yemeni plane that was outside the country at Queen Alia Airport in the Jordanian capital, Amman." Initial counts suggest that there were no fatalities, though the Houthis claim otherwise.

This was a revenge act from the Israel Defense Forces. Just a few days earlier, a missile from the Iranian-backed Houthis landed near Israel’s main international hub, Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). This injured six and shut down airport operations for around an hour, though flights remained limited for the remainder of the day.

Retaliation to this strike began on May 5, when Israel hit the Yemeni port city of Hudaydah. At least four were killed and 35 more were injured.

"Our choice of when to respond, how to respond and on which targets to respond is a consideration that we make every time," stated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He noted that anyone attacking Israel “bears responsibility for his own blood" and will be held “accountable.”

FMI: www.airbus.com