- Yemeni government forces struck the Sanaa Airport runway on July 13 to block an unauthorized Iranian flight.
- Regional travel is disrupted with partial airspace closures across the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain.
- The U.S. and U.K. maintain strict Do Not Travel advisories for Yemen due to active armed conflict.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government struck the runway at Sanaa International Airport on July 13 to stop an Iranian aircraft from landing, prompting travel warnings across the region. The strike left the airport effectively closed to civilian travel as the conflict around Yemen intensified.
The operation targeted a plane intended to carry back a Houthi delegation. The group had traveled to Iran for Ayatollah Khamenei’s funeral.
Houthi rebels accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out the attack. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said on Telegram that the strikes were “aggression” that “will not go unanswered.”
The government’s defense ministry gave a different account. It said it targeted the runway to prevent the Iranian aircraft from landing.
The dispute centers on an Iranian flight that arrived at the airport on July 3 to collect the delegation. About a week later, Iran requested a Mahan Air flight to return the group, but the internationally recognized government rejected that request and proposed a Yemenia Airways-chartered aircraft instead.
The kingdom’s sources also distinguished the latest runway strike from an earlier operation. A Wednesday night strike targeted a drone hangar at the airport, they said, rather than the runway.
The airport has no regular civilian service to resume. Yemen remains under a U.S. State Department Level 4, “Do Not Travel” advisory because of armed conflict, terrorism and kidnapping risks. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Yemen, and no commercial flights operate in or out of the country.
Regional airspace restrictions are already disrupting Gulf travel
Travel conditions vary across nearby countries, but several governments have issued new warnings or restrictions.
| Destination | Current travel condition |
|---|---|
| Oman | Commercial flights continue from international airports. The U.S. Embassy in Muscat told people to shelter in place in Duqm and Musandam because of recent activity. |
| United Arab Emirates | Airspace is partially shut, causing delays to Dubai. British nationals have been advised to remain indoors because of missile threats. |
| Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait | British nationals have been advised to remain indoors because of missile threats. |
| Israel | Airspace is closed, and no commercial flights operate in or out. |
| Jordan | Airspace remains open, but travelers should monitor for route changes. |
Airline schedules can change quickly. Travelers in Dubai, Doha and Amman should check their carrier’s website for delays and cancellations before leaving for the airport.
The U.S. Embassy’s guidance covers two Omani areas. Duqm and Musandam are the locations specifically named in the shelter-in-place notice.
Australia has separately advised travelers to reconsider travel within 30–80 km of the Yemen-Saudi border because of missile and drone threats. India continues to tell its nationals to refrain from non-essential travel to Yemen, even after withdrawing a 2017 travel restriction notification.
The airport strike follows a stalled truce
The attack came as Yemen’s conflict continued without a resolution to the 2022 truce. Limited clashes are likely to continue, while no full-scale confrontation was expected as of July 13.
That forecast does not reopen the airport or restore passenger service. The runway operation instead adds another obstacle to the movement of people and aircraft through the Houthi-held capital.
Travelers already in the Gulf should follow embassy instructions and avoid Duqm and Musandam. Those with bookings through Dubai, Doha or Amman should verify their flight status directly with the airline before traveling to the airport.
