Yemen truce ends after Sanaa airport strike

A fragile four-year truce in Yemen’s civil war has been shattered by a series of escalating military actions, raising fears of a return to full-scale conflict with significant regional implications. The violence, triggered by a dispute over an Iranian flight, culminated on July 13, 2026, with a strike on Sanaa International Airport and retaliatory Houthi missile attacks on Saudi Arabia.

The immediate catalyst was the return of a Houthi delegation from Tehran, where they had attended the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As an Iranian Mahan Air flight carrying the delegation approached Sanaa on July 13, the runway at the Houthi-controlled airport was struck, preventing the plane from landing. The aircraft was diverted and landed safely at another airport. Yemen’s internationally recognized government, led by Rashad al-Alimi, claimed responsibility for the airstrike, stating it had rejected Iran's request to return the delegation and accusing the Houthis of operating outside legal aviation frameworks. Houthi officials and other sources attributed the strike to the Saudi-led coalition, though Saudi Arabia has not publicly confirmed involvement.