Saudis Take Out Sana’a Airstrips

Combat aircraft from the Saudi-led alliance backing the Hadi government bombed Sana’a’s airport runways on Tuesday to prevent Iranian aircraft from supplying the Houthis. Iran has been giving considerable support to the Houthi rebels in their war against the Hadi government.

Officials from both sides stated that the attack on the airport was conducted specifically in order to prevent Iranian aircraft from landing at the airport. Given US control of the Arabian Sea prevents Iran from supplying the Houthis by ship, resupply by aircraft remains the only feasible means by which Iran can give aid at this time. Concerns circulate over the attacks on airstrips hampering humanitarian efforts to ship aid into Yemen, where the situation in country is described by the Red Cross as “catastrophic.” Iran has already complained to the Red Cross about Saudi Arabia blocking aid planes from Iran to Yemen. Whether or not the “aid” consists of food and medical supplies to civilians or weaponry to the Houthis remains in question. Yemeni civilians suffer greatly due to a lack of medical supplies and water in the war-torn nation. Even before hostilities started, Yemeni water supplies were far from secure.

Brigadier General and Saudi spokesman Ahmed Asseri claimed that the airport was bombed after an Iranian aircraft heading towards Sana’a refused orders from Saudi aircraft to turn back. Yemeni airport officials claim that twenty sorties hit the airport, destroying both the landing and departure runways as well as two civilian aircraft. Iranian news reports claim that the Saudi warnings were “illegal” and that the Iranian aircraft was carrying humanitarian supplies. Houthi news reports state that the aircraft was also to transport wounded victims of Saudi airstrikes to Iran for medical treatment.

With Iran heavily backing the Houthis, and the threat apparent from having an Iranian proxy on their porous southern border, the Saudis can ill afford to hold back from preventing the Iranians from giving further aid to the Houthis. Observers can expect to see more such brazen attacks on Iranian supply smuggling operations, as the Saudis will risk international condemnation over allowing Iran to gain a foothold in a territory bordering their nation.