On July 13, 2026, the Yemeni Iran-backed Ansar Allah Movement (Houthis) accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out an airstrike targeting Sanaa International Airport, describing the alleged attack as a “dangerous escalation” aimed at preventing a Houthi delegation from returning to Yemen.
In a statement issued by its Political Bureau and published through affiliated media channels, Ansar Allah claimed that the alleged Saudi-led action targeted the airport in an attempt to obstruct the return of its representatives. Nevertheless, it emphasized, the effort failed.
The group characterized the alleged strike as a “blatant aggression” against the Yemeni people, saying that it constitutes a violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and an infringement of international laws and norms.
According to the statement, the attack reflects what the Houthis describe as the “hatred and criminality” of the Saudi government and its U.S. backers toward Yemen.
The Houthis further alleged that the strike was part of a broader U.S.-backed effort to maintain the ongoing blockade imposed on Houthi-controlled areas for more than a decade. The statement framed the reported attack as an attempt by Saudi Arabia to reassert political influence over Yemen and undermine the country’s sovereignty and independent decision-making.
“The logic of force, arrogance, and domination pursued by the Saudi regime and backed by the United States will not achieve any result and is destined to fail,” the statement said.
The Houthis asserted that the Yemeni people retain the “full right” to respond to the alleged Saudi aggression against Sanaa International Airport, raising the prospect of retaliatory action.
The statement also called on the United Nations, the international community, and humanitarian organizations to assume responsibility for addressing the humanitarian impact of the restrictions and blockade affecting Yemen.
It concluded by vowing that the Yemeni people would remain committed to defending their rights, sovereignty, and dignity despite what it described as continued external aggression.
“Bab Al-Mandab Strait Will Join The Strait Of Hormuz”
Moreover, Muhammad Al-Farah, a member of the Houthi Political Bureau, wrote on Telegram that it is not in America’s interest to push Saudi Arabia to attack Yemen.
He threatened that such attacks will result in the Bab al-Mandab Strait joining the Strait of Hormuz and consequently drive oil prices to a soaring $200 a barrel. He further argued that the attack now gives the Houthis a reason to “strike back and liberate Yemen from occupation.”
Separately, the Iran-backed Iraqi militia-affiliated Telegram channel “Alqaed Almaydani” published a poster highlighting what appears to be growing coordination within the Iran-led “Axis of Resistance” following the reported Saudi strike on Sanaa International Airport.
The graphic featured side-by-side images of Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the IRGC’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, and Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree’.
In the image, Zolfaghari is shown placing his hand on a map of the Strait of Hormuz, while Saree’ places his hand on a map of Bab Al-Mandab, the strategic waterway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
The accompanying caption read: “From Zolfaghari to Saree’… Hormuz and Bab Al-Mandab are at the mercy of the Shiites (whether you like it or not).”