Yemen's Sanaa airport to resume operations after Israeli strike

Israeli military intercepts missile launched by Houthis

Yemenia Airways lost three planes, while six aircraft were destroyed in total, following Israeli air strikes on Sanaa International Airport on May 6. AP

Yemen's Sanaa International Airport will resume operations from Wednesday, the airport's general director said, after an Israeli strike last week rendered it out of service.

Khaled Al Shaif spoke as the Israeli military said it had intercepted a missile that was launched from Yemen on Tuesday evening.

The strikes on Sanaa airport on May 6 came after the Houthi rebel group, which controls the city, launched another missile that struck near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport.

"The rehabilitation work on the airport runway has been completed, and it is now ready to receive flights starting tomorrow," Mr Al Shaif said on Tuesday.

Mr Al Shaif had previously told Houthi media that the Israeli strike on the airport caused $500 million in damage and destroyed terminal buildings. Yemenia Airways lost three planes, with six aircraft destroyed in total, he said, predicting that it would take a "long time" to restore operations.

The airport reopened to international flights after a six-year gap in 2022, with regular flights to Jordan's capital Amman. Yemenis in need of emergency medical treatment abroad have been among those relying on the airport.

Last week, the US announced it would end a bombing campaign that had significantly intensified since mid-March, with the Houthis also agreeing to stop attacking ships to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. The truce was mediated and confirmed by Oman.

But the deal did not mention Israel, which the Iran-backed Houthis vowed to continue attacking, as part of what they claim is a pressure campaign in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

The Yemeni group on Tuesday night claimed responsibility for a missile launched towards Israel, which set off air-raid sirens across regions. "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted," the Israeli military said, after earlier announcing it had "identified the launch of a missile from Yemen toward Israeli territory".

On Friday, the Israeli army said it had intercepted another Houthi missile with Defence Minister Israel Katz vowing to respond. The Israeli military then issued an eviction notice for Yemenis to leave three ports in Houthi-controlled areas.

The Houthi Interior Ministry reported Israeli strikes after the warning for residents of Ras Isa, Hodeidah and Salif. There was no comment from Israel.