Escalation: Saudi Arabia blocks Iranian passenger plane in Sana'a
On July 13, 2026, Saudi forces struck the runway at Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport to block the landing of an Iranian passenger jet carrying a Houthi delegation, but Houthi media said the plane still landed in Yemen, according to NDTV and the Times of Israel; Long War Journal and Israel National News confirm the runway was targeted.
Axios reports that on July 13, President Donald Trump gave Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman his backing for the strike against the Iran‑aligned Houthis.
AP7AM says the Iranian plane was forced to divert and land in Hodeidah in western Yemen after the Sanaa strikes; Long War Journal adds that Saudi Arabia and the Houthis traded further attacks following the airport strike.
Long War Journal links the flare‑up to efforts to restart direct flights between Yemen and Iran, with the July 13 flight carrying a Houthi delegation from Tehran; on July 11, Al Jazeera reported rising tensions across Yemen’s battlefield and political spheres.
Details diverge across outlets: Long War Journal and Israel National News attribute the airport strike to Saudi Arabia, while AP7AM describes strikes by Yemen’s government; NDTV and the Times of Israel say the plane landed in Yemen despite the attack, while AP7AM specifies Hodeidah as the landing site.
Synthesized from 5 sources
AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources
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