Context:

Israeli fighter jets bombed the main international airport in Sana, Yemen, as a retaliatory measure following a missile attack by Yemen's Houthi militia near Israel's main airport. The attacks are part of a larger confrontation involving the Iran-backed Houthis, who have launched multiple assaults on Israel and ships in the Red Sea to express solidarity with Palestinians. The closure of Sana's airport exacerbates Yemen's humanitarian crisis, isolating over 20 million Yemenis in Houthi-controlled regions from vital medical and familial connections abroad. Despite intensified bombings from both Israel and the United States, the Houthis remain undeterred, continuing their campaign and adapting by using other routes to smuggle weapons and supplies. Civilians in Yemen perceive the Israeli airstrikes as collective punishment, with significant disruptions to essential services and infrastructure, while the Houthis maintain their aggressive stance against perceived adversaries.

Dive Deeper:

• Israeli airstrikes targeted Yemen's main international airport in Sana, rendering it inoperative, as a response to the Houthi militia's missile strike near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport. This military action is part of ongoing tensions involving the Iran-supported Houthis and their campaign to support Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.

• The Israeli military's actions also included strikes on power stations and other infrastructure in Yemen, escalating the conflict and affecting civilian life, as the airport serves as a crucial link for Yemenis seeking medical treatment and connecting with the outside world.

• The Houthis, not deterred by these airstrikes, continue to target Israeli assets, declaring an air blockade and vowing to persist with their attacks, framing their actions as part of a 'holy war' in support of Palestinians against perceived aggression from Israel and the United States.

• A stepped-up U.S. bombing campaign, initiated under the Biden administration and intensified by President Trump, aims to dismantle the Houthi militia's capabilities, particularly their threats to shipping routes, further complicating the geopolitical landscape in the region.

• Sana's airport had previously been closed for years due to a Saudi-led coalition's efforts against the Houthis, which had already left many Yemenis without access to critical medical services and separated families, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation.

• Civilians in Yemen view the recent Israeli attacks as collective punishment, exacerbating the already severe humanitarian crisis, as the destruction of the airport and other infrastructure primarily impacts the civilian population rather than the Houthi leadership.

• Despite the intense military pressure, the Houthis adapt by using alternative smuggling routes along Yemen's extensive coastline to maintain their access to weapons and supplies, demonstrating their resilience and determination to continue their conflict-driven agenda.