Key Takeaways
• Israeli airstrike destroyed Sanaa Airport on May 6–7, 2025, causing $500 mn damage and halting all flights.
• Six planes, including three Yemenia Airways jets, were destroyed, leaving Yemenia with just one operational plane stranded abroad.
• Closure blocks humanitarian aid and migration, severely impacting Yemen’s connectivity, with at least seven killed and 74 injured.
On May 6, 2025, the conflict in Yemen reached a new and serious point when Israeli forces carried out a large airstrike on Sanaa International Airport. This airport is the main gateway to Yemen 🇾🇪 and is found in the country’s capital. The attack, which happened over May 6 and May 7, was a response to a missile strike by the Houthi group on Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. According to officials from Yemen, the Israeli attack not only shut down the airport but also caused damage estimated at $500 mn. Flights to and from Sanaa have stopped completely, affecting many people in a country already struggling with many challenges.
Let’s explore what happened in detail, how this affects travel and immigration, and why this event matters for Yemen 🇾🇪, Israel 🇮🇱, and the region.
The Incident: What Happened at Sanaa Airport
The attack on Sanaa Airport was not a quick or small event. Dozens of Israeli jets took part, dropping more than 50 bombs and missiles on the area. The operation was coordinated with the United States 🇺🇸, which also hit Houthi targets in Yemen 🇾🇪 at the same time. The main target was Sanaa International Airport, which was under Houthi control.
Khaled Al-Shaief, the airport’s Director General, said the Israeli attack left the airport unusable. According to him, the cost of the destruction is around $500 mn. Terminal buildings, all passenger lounges, and supply centers have been flattened. Even the basic airport infrastructure needed for flights to arrive or leave was destroyed.
In addition to the airport, Israeli attacks also hit electric power stations and factories in the Sanaa province. The goal, according to Israeli statements, was to weaken the Houthis’ ability to fire missiles. As reported by VisaVerge.com, these measures are among the strongest Israel 🇮🇱 has used against the Houthis so far in response to the Ben Gurion Airport attack.
Details of the Damage
The damage goes far beyond buildings. Six aircraft were destroyed in the attack. Three of those belonged to Yemenia Airways, which is the country’s main airline. This means Yemenia now has just one working airplane, and it is not even inside Yemen 🇾🇪; it is stranded in Oman 🇴🇲. With the only international airport fully knocked out, no planes can take off or land in Sanaa.
Khaled Al-Shaief described the site as catastrophic, noting that nothing was left untouched. Every terminal, each passenger lounge, and all supply buildings were hit. This means that even if someone wanted to repair the airport, it would take a massive effort, a lot of money, and months or years before flights could resume.
The Impact on Operations and Mobility
Before the attack, Sanaa International Airport was Yemen’s main link to the outside world. Now, all flights have stopped. This has left Yemen 🇾🇪 more isolated. With the airport closed, there are no direct flights to bring in humanitarian aid, medicine, or supplies for people in need. For many Yemenis who need to travel for study, work, or to reunite with family, the closure is a heavy blow.
The airport director and several international reports confirm that the airport is “fully disabled.” There is no way to restart flights soon. Not only have physical buildings been hit, but radar and other airport equipment, needed for the safe takeoff and landing of planes, have also been destroyed.
By closing the main airport, the attack also affects the work of international groups wanting to help Yemen 🇾🇪. The United Nations, Red Cross, and many other organizations often use Sanaa International Airport as their entry point. Without it, bringing in food and medical help will be much harder.
Losses for Yemenia Airways
The hit to Yemenia Airways is especially hard. The destruction of three planes (half their working fleet) leaves the airline with no way to operate in Yemen 🇾🇪 itself. The company said only one of its planes remains, and that one is outside the country. The future of Yemenia Airways is now very uncertain. Staff may lose their jobs, and people seeking to leave or come to Yemen 🇾🇪 will face even more delays.
Civilian Losses and Casualties
The airstrikes caused not only property damage but also loss of life. According to Houthi-run officials, at least seven people were killed in the attacks, and up to 74 others were hurt. Some of these deaths and injuries happened at or near Sanaa International Airport itself.
The airport is surrounded by busy neighborhoods. During the strike, the area was full of airport workers, city staff, and people nearby. Reports mention that some of the injured are still in serious condition. The number of those hurt could rise, as some might have been missed during the chaos.
The Wider Context: Why Did Israel Attack?
The airstrike on Sanaa Airport did not happen without warning. Tensions between Israel 🇮🇱 and the Houthi group in Yemen 🇾🇪 have been building for months. On May 5, the Houthis launched a missile attack on Ben Gurion Airport in Israel 🇮🇱. They say their actions are a response to Israel’s actions in Gaza. The Houthis have also said they will keep fighting Israel 🇮🇱 as long as their demands about Gaza are not met.
Israel 🇮🇱 responded quickly, saying it had proof that the Houthis were using Sanaa Airport for military purposes, not just civilian travel. The Houthis rejected this, saying the airport was only used for normal, peaceful flights. The Israeli government claimed the airstrike was meant to stop further missile launches by hitting important infrastructure.
The United States 🇺🇸 joined in the operation, hitting what it called “Houthi military sites” in Sanaa province and other places in Yemen 🇾🇪 at the same time as the Israeli attack. These coordinated attacks send a strong message that both Israel 🇮🇱 and the United States 🇺🇸 view the Houthi threat as very serious.
How the Attack Affects Immigration and Travel
For people trying to leave Yemen 🇾🇪, whether as refugees, students, or workers, the attack means fewer options. Sanaa International Airport was the country’s main airport for flying in and out. The closure blocks the usual path for people wanting to reach safety or look for new chances abroad.
International students who hoped to travel for school may be stuck. Yemeni workers with jobs overseas cannot fly out. Families wanting to reunite across borders now face even more trouble. Immigration cases involving Yemen 🇾🇪, especially for those relying on evacuation or family reunification, might get delayed for months.
People who already left Yemen 🇾🇪 before the airport attack worry about being cut off from family still inside the country. Humanitarian parole programs, which offer safe passage for people in danger, will now have to find other, harder ways to help those in need.
Humanitarian and Economic Effects
Sanaa International Airport was not just important for travelers. It was the main hub for aid organizations moving food and medical supplies into the country. Yemen 🇾🇪 has faced famines and a long civil war. Many people depend on outside help. The attack and resulting damage—estimated at $500 mn—put more lives at risk. Delivering help by air is now almost impossible.
The destruction also has economic fallout. With the airport shut, Yemen 🇾🇪 loses a source of income from flights, cargo, and airport jobs. Local suppliers who sell fuel or food to the airport will lose business. Taxi drivers and hotel staff who depend on travelers are now without work.
Rebuilding the airport will cost a huge amount ($500 mn, according to the airport director) and will take a long time. The Yemeni government does not have the resources to start repairs soon. This means the problems facing the country will likely get worse.
Different Viewpoints and Regional Reactions
This attack has sparked debate across the Middle East. Some argue that hitting the airport was needed to stop future Houthi missile attacks. Others say that destroying civilian transport sheds more hardship on the Yemeni people, who have already suffered from years of war and poverty.
The Houthis claimed they never used civilian airports for military reasons and promised they would respond to Israel’s attack. Israel 🇮🇱 and their allies say their goal is to protect their own airports and cities from further attacks.
International groups like the United Nations have expressed concern at the loss of life and the closing of Yemen’s main world connection. Ongoing fighting affects not just governments and insurgents, but regular people who now face even more threats and hardship.
The Bigger Picture: Political and Human Stakes
What happened at Sanaa International Airport is about more than just buildings and airplanes. It’s about how wars hurt regular people. The airport was a lifeline not only for travel, but for food, medical help, and hope. With $500 mn in damage and the loss of all flights, a whole country has been cut off from the world.
For people who want to leave dangerous conditions, reunite with relatives, or get medical care only found abroad, the options have been taken away. Aid organizations now have a harder job getting help to those in need, and Yemen 🇾🇪 moves closer to even worse humanitarian trouble.
As the situation changes, the international community will need to respond. Some may send help by land or to other airports if they are open, but these ways are often slower and riskier.
What’s Next: Recovery and International Help
The next weeks and months will be crucial for Yemen 🇾🇪. Rebuilding Sanaa International Airport will take millions of dollars and international support. If repairs take too long, more people may try to cross dangerous land borders seeking safety or work. This could increase the number of refugees and migrants in the region, pushing nearby countries to handle new arrivals.
To follow official updates about the airport shutdown, or for information about immigration options related to Yemen 🇾🇪, you can visit the International Organization for Migration website, which has details for travelers and those needing help.
Summary and Key Takeaways
- On May 6–7, 2025, Israel 🇮🇱 struck Sanaa International Airport after a missile attack on their own airport.
- At least seven were killed, and up to 74 were hurt, according to Houthi-run reports.
- The airport suffered $500 mn in damage, according to the airport’s director, and cannot operate any flights.
- Six planes, including three Yemenia Airways jets, were destroyed, leaving the airline with only one working plane outside Yemen 🇾🇪.
- The destruction has stopped immigration, travel, and aid deliveries almost completely for now.
As countries, aid groups, and immigration officials react, the hope is that solutions for both travel and humanitarian support can be found. The story of Sanaa International Airport shows how quickly and deeply conflicts affect regular people seeking to move, work, study, or just stay safe.
For up-to-date details and official statements about the current immigration and travel situation in Yemen 🇾🇪, readers can check resources from the International Organization for Migration. These difficult times highlight the need for clear, fast support for all those affected—whether they are travelers, families, or people looking to start a new life somewhere safe.
Learn Today
Houthi group → Armed political movement controlling parts of Yemen, engaged in conflict with the Yemeni government and foreign powers.
Humanitarian parole → Permission allowing vulnerable people to temporarily enter another country for urgent humanitarian reasons or emergency situations.
Ben Gurion Airport → Israel’s main international airport, located near Tel Aviv, often targeted due to its strategic importance.
Yemenia Airways → Yemen’s national airline, responsible for most passenger and cargo flights to and from the country.
International Organization for Migration → UN agency coordinating global migration, support for migrants, refugees, and displaced people, especially during crises.
This Article in a Nutshell
The Israeli airstrike on Sanaa International Airport devastated Yemen’s main gateway, halting all flights, and causing $500 million in damage. Humanitarian aid, migration, and economic lifelines are now blocked. Yemenia Airways lost most of its fleet. The event amplifies Yemen’s humanitarian crisis and regional instability, demanding urgent international response.
— By VisaVerge.com
Read more:
• Houthis Warn Ben-Gurion Airport Is Unsafe After Gaza Clashes
