Israeli warplanes on Wednesday struck Sanaa&rsquo;s main airport in Yemen and several aircraft belonging to the Houthi forces, Israel&rsquo;s military said in a statement.
The attack destroyed the last aircraft used by the Houthi forces, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said in a separate statement.
The strike formed part of what Israel calls &ldquo;Operation Golden Jewel&rdquo;, a campaign aimed at degrading the Houthis&rsquo; capacity to launch further attacks on Israel, Gallant said.
&ldquo;This is a clear message and a direct continuation of the policy we have set: whoever fires at Israel will pay a heavy price,&rdquo; Gallant warned.
He added that Israel would continue targeting Yemeni ports and strategic infrastructure used by the Houthis and their allies. &ldquo;The airport in Sanaa will be destroyed again and again.&rdquo;
Gallant also warned that the Houthis would face &ldquo;a naval and aerial blockade&rdquo;.
Khaled al-Shaief, Houthi Director-General of Sanaa International Airport, confirmed that the fourth and last plane of Yemen&rsquo;s national carrier, Yemenia Airlines, was destroyed by the Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday morning.
&ldquo;The (Israeli) enemy targeted the last Yemenia Airlines plane operating at Sanaa International Airport and destroyed it,&rdquo; al-Shaief wrote on social platform X. He posted a photograph showing the aircraft in flames, with smoke rising from it at the airport.
Israel&rsquo;s Army Radio reported that the Houthis have launched seven ballistic missiles and several drones towards Israeli territory over the past fortnight. Most of the projectiles were intercepted, and no significant damage or casualties were reported.
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have been targeting Israel since November 2023 in what they claim is an act of solidarity with Palestinians. The group has stated it would cease attacks if Israel ends its military operations and blockade of Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported.
Israel has conducted several major airstrikes in Yemen. Its previous strike, two weeks ago, targeted the international airport in Sanaa, rendering it inoperable.
&mdash; IANS

Israeli warplanes destroys Houthis last aircraft at Sanna Airport

Tel Aviv launches 'Operation Golden Jewel' targeting Houthi infrastructure in Yemen

Israel bombs Sanaa Airport, destroys Houthi aircraft

Tel Aviv launches 'Operation Golden Jewel' targeting Houthi infrastructure in Yemen

May 28, 2025 | 16:41 IST