# Yemeni military targets Sanaa airport runway to stop Iranian plane landing, defence ministry says

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-07-13 13:07 UTC · Category: World

## Executive Summary
The Yemeni military targets Sanaa airport's runway to block an incoming Iranian flight, according to defense ministry statements.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent reporting establishes that military forces carried out operations targeting the runway at Sanaa International Airport in Yemen. According to statements attributed to the defense ministry, the primary objective of this action was to prevent an Iranian plane from landing at the facility. Coverage across multiple international outlets details that the strikes occurred while Houthi forces and their allies maintained control over the airport grounds. Outlets tracking the development include Reuters, The Hill, The Jerusalem Post, Click2Houston, and Ynetnews.


Reporting from Reuters emphasizes the official position of the Yemeni defense ministry regarding the runway strike. Meanwhile, coverage from The Hill, The Jerusalem Post, Click2Houston, and Ynetnews highlights statements originating from Houthi sources and Iran-backed rebel representatives, who accuse Saudi Arabia of executing the airstrikes. The context surrounding the event involves long-standing regional conflicts and foreign influence over Yemeni infrastructure. Houthi rebels control significant portions of Yemen, including the capital and its primary aviation facilities, while external military coalitions engage in operations within the country.


The attempted arrival of the Iranian plane introduces an international diplomatic and logistical dimension to the local military confrontation at the airport. Future developments remain dependent on official announcements from the participating ministries and coalitions. Coverage does not yet specify the immediate status of the targeted runway or whether subsequent flights attempted to land at Sanaa International Airport. Observers and news organizations continue to monitor statements from both the Yemeni defense ministry and Houthi authorities for further updates on regional airspace control.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Ynetnews | Houthis accuse Saudi Arabia of striking Sanaa airport to block Iranian plane | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiVkFVX3lxTE1OODFzQktJaWRPQ1lHcGlqdTBFTFlqOU5EaHJuTm5hTWlyNHRJMGVpc01tRGtqOTA2ZU1fX21xTGZPSlJmY3J0UHVGZEp5Um15VUhrSUF3?oc=5) |
| Click2Houston | Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen say Saudi airstrikes hit Sanaa International Airport | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1wFBVV95cUxQOUZONHJ4eDdHX0huV2w3ZW9CQV95enlsLVNkZlJpMnY3cHU1WWFPWG9mMXhXUnU0ZjJfMmdmQlgzTkZQYzFUTW8yRWRqNFhYSnBNNXIwdjBUTlJaWkYtc05JQm5VV0p6Wk4za1JLa0lIVE0xejdIc2o1LUdmVUFjV1hmMWNkMDRMR0tkLU5kTUY2aFN1d2dMYUxHX2hoelpLdXdnemhhYmd1S0d2OHVPWmxIWEZrX0laaThYRU1BUzBTeEZvYWxCYW9adzhsNmRXUjJuX0JCcw?oc=5) |
| The Hill | Houthi rebels in Yemen say Sanaa International Airport is hit by Saudi strikes | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiywFBVV95cUxPcHVGaklLd000UV9tczNRUFBRRkRYMFVBNm83V1VGZ2FCR1k5NE1GTUpXaVhZaFpFLVVlb0doR2xSZUp0QzBCZWNMZU1TUFJ1bEhxbEwxd2dYN0RrRVRMWmFRWlFNR2NLbTZuM3I1WmlpV3BMMHhac01YaUdIOVZPTTJncHd3cjNMckpaU0s3TVlOYlN0b3llU3JwRW1fVjc4TFBKWUpCc1ZNcFBzdVFUcUZISFBwblZPallQdEd2dmRfb0dWYmZaVlV3c9IB0AFBVV95cUxOdFJGZEphWS1mRkwtbDhnZ3NoNVRyS1VRRU12VTRndUhOSkQ3SWwzeTRBV19lOW9rUGZBb0ItSnUzZDRYcUI5bHlEaUZrNXBKOVNOdHZ2ZUdhd0JrUEFjYU5ydGY0ZUFoMEJKV21wa2l2aTFzTnk3MXY5MURId3JhT2JXdERzdEV) |
| The Jerusalem Post | Saudi Arabia strikes Houthi-controlled Sana'a airport to stop Iranian plane | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiXEFVX3lxTE80Q3N2dEwxaWNuMU9ZdmlNZzg2U2lHOFdXVFZLc0ZkQzRmc2NBQm4xMzBvSkRJSThDejhLZkVodEdGMXB4UFM1WGFWeElONEJmMzBhQXhwcndIcGRD?oc=5) |
| Reuters | Yemeni military targets Sanaa airport runway to stop Iranian plane landing, defence ministry says | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizgFBVV95cUxQV2Q4MUdSUXZ0ZWdUWnM4SFNoV0lqYlBHTy1PMURKeFA1TS02RWRjbVZDYzJTY29obkdIa29MV2Y1WjZta2c5TXRzTEdNRjc3alR0MGtNV3QzUXpoanJyLWQ4VHV4NlM2WloyaWZaenV1Y1hqUjY1dHNaaXRiWnoxdmxLYWtyNURVQlRfblZjaFBYTmdXNDVVVFFlM1BWS3M2SzFOcm5MakVrYWNwM01aT0s2UThnckpQRDlSUjdqRjlMaWM4eTJtRG5JZU9FQQ?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-07-13/yemeni-military-targets-sanaa-airport-runway-to-stop-iranian-plane-landing*