The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday ordered the immediate evacuation of Sana’a International Airport in Yemen, escalating tensions in a regional conflict that pits the Jewish state against the Iran-backed Houthi movement.
The warning was issued by IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee, who posted the message on social media platform X, urging civilians to leave the airport area to avoid danger. “We urge you to evacuate the area of Sana’a International Airport immediately. Failure to do so puts you at risk,” Adraee stated, emphasizing the urgency in an accompanying video.
The Israeli warning comes just a day after its air force bombed the strategic port of Al Hudaydah in retaliation for a Houthi missile strike near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport last Sunday. The move signals a hardening of the conflict, which has increasingly spilled beyond Gaza.
According to an official IDF statement, Monday’s operation involved around 20 fighter jets deploying approximately 50 air-dropped munitions on “dozens of terrorist regime infrastructure sites” along the Yemeni coast. Targets included logistics warehouses, command centers, and operational facilities linked to the insurgents.
One of the main targets was the Bajil concrete factory, located east of Hudaydah, which Israel claims is used by the Houthis to build tunnels and underground military infrastructure. The offensive also struck facilities within the port, which the IDF says is a key source of revenue for the rebels and serves as a logistics hub for the transfer of Iranian weapons.
Since October 2023—when the war in Gaza began—the Houthi movement has intensified its attacks on Israel in what Tel Aviv describes as a regional campaign to destabilize the Middle East and disrupt global maritime trade. In recent months, the insurgents have launched dozens of missiles and suicide drones targeting Israeli territory and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea.
Over the past weekend, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching at least five missiles at Israel. Four were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system, while one landed near Ben Gurion Airport, injuring four people.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military leadership continues to assess the potential expansion of its ground offensive in Gaza. According to the same IDF statement, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, alongside Shin Bet intelligence chief Ronen Bar and other senior officials, is finalizing plans to escalate Operation “Chariots of Gideon.”
The recent airstrike marks Israel’s first direct attack on Yemeni territory since it resumed military operations in Gaza in mid-March, highlighting the growing regional scope of the war. The active involvement of the Houthis—a Shiite militia heavily supported by Iran—adds a new layer of complexity and poses a heightened risk to the already fragile stability of the Middle East.
