News - Yemen: The General Manager of Sana'a International Airport, Khaled Al-Shaif, pointed to the initial impacts of the Zionist aggression that targeted Sana'a Airport on Wednesday.

Al-Shaif explained that the Zionist enemy targeted with four airstrikes the only aircraft belonging to Yemenia Airways in Sana'a, which had survived the previous aggression on May 6 of this month.

He indicated that the aircraft, which was completely destroyed, had returned half an hour before the strike from Al-Ula International Airport in Jordan, carrying 150 passengers. It was scheduled to transport 300 pilgrims to the holy sites at the same time it was targeted.

He said that the Zionist aggression targeted the airport with the first airstrike at 9:50, which prompted airport officials to evacuate the aircraft crew and disembark citizens arriving from Jordan, as well as evacuate the 300 pilgrims who were preparing to board the targeted plane after completing all procedures.

He pointed out that the Israeli enemy’s air force targeted the plane with four airstrikes, which led to its complete destruction.

The Director of Sana'a International Airport added, “Unfortunately, this plane is the only one Yemenia Airways owned in Sana'a, and it was used to organize commercial flights. Its bombing will cause a major problem in transporting patients and humanitarian cases whose health conditions require leaving the country, in addition to the pilgrims who were deprived of reaching the holy lands to perform the Hajj pilgrimage.”

He noted that the targeted aircraft used to transport pilgrims through two daily flights to Jeddah Airport, in addition to two flights to Jordan, and that the last pilgrim transport flights were scheduled on June 1.

Al-Shaif confirmed that the criminal entity also targeted a plane belonging to Sae'eda Company that was parked at the airport. 

He pointed out that there was no loss in infrastructure despite the Israeli targeting of the airport three times, but the major loss is the targeting of the only passenger and commercial flight aircraft. He explained that alternative solutions will be found in the future.

Sana’a International Airport is Yemen’s primary gateway for air travel and a vital infrastructure asset for the country. Over recent years, it has repeatedly come under attack amid ongoing US-Saudi-British-Israeli aggression.

The airport serves both civilian and humanitarian needs, making it a critical facility for Yemen’s population. Targeting such civilian infrastructure escalates tensions and raises international concerns about the impact on innocent civilians and the disruption of essential services.