Shukri Hussein and Mohammad Sio
28 May 2025•Update: 28 May 2025
Sanaa, Yemen/ISTANBUL
The Yemeni Houthi group reaffirmed its commitment Wednesday to supporting the Gaza Strip, seemingly undeterred by Israeli airstrikes that targeted the Sanaa International Airport
It warned Tel Aviv of a “hot summer” in retaliation.
Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV said four Israeli airstrikes targeted the airport's runway and a plane from flag carrier Yemenia Airways.
“This criminal aggression will only push us further,” Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, who visited the site, told the Houthi-affiliated Saba news agency.
He vowed that the Houthis would not waver in their support for Gaza until Israel halts its offensive and lifts the blockade.
“You cannot protect Zionists from our missiles,” he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Al-Mashat also warned airlines still operating flights to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport that they could be “at risk at any moment.”
A Houthi ballistic missile hit the Ben Gurion Airport on May 4, prompting several international carriers to suspend flights to Israel.
Al-Mashat added that Yemeni missiles can reach their targets, and shelters would not ensure safety for Israelis. He described the Israeli strike on the Sanaa airport as a sign of Israeli frustration with Houthi attacks.
“The enemy’s bombing proves it is hurting from our strikes. The Zionists should brace for a hot summer,” he warned.
Wednesday’s strike marked Israel’s 10th attack on Yemen since Tel Aviv began its genocidal war against Gaza.
Previous targets included cement factories, power stations and seaports, with repeated strikes on the same sites rather than expanding the scope.
Israeli media outlets have reported growing domestic criticism about the limited effect of the strikes, which have failed to deter the Houthis or halt their operations.
The Houthis announced Tuesday they had carried out 22 military operations targeting Israel since the beginning of May, calling it “the most painful month” for Tel Aviv, as reported in a video published by Al-Masirah.
The Houthis have intensified missile and drone strikes on Israel since Tel Aviv resumed military attacks on Gaza in March.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have also targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 54,000 victims have been killed in the Israeli offensive.
