Latest news with #YemeniaAirways
Gulf Insider
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Houthis Vow "Hot Summer" As Israel's National Airline Added To Target List
President of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, has warned Israel of a 'hot summer' ahead, as the militant group allied to Iran has refused to halt its missile fire on Israel in relation to the ongoing Gaza war. Israeli airstrikes earlier this week took out the last remaining planes operated by national carrier Yemenia Airways at Sanaa international airport. The airport is completely demolished after multiple rounds of Israeli attacks, and with runways blown to pieces. Israel has stressed this is direct retaliation for Houthi missiles which have repeatedly targeted Ben Gurion International Airport, including a ballistic missile which was sent – and intercepted – on Thursday. 'The upcoming operations will differ in quantity and quality from previous operations carried out deep inside the Israeli entity,' Yemeni sources were quoted in a regional publication as saying. The new statement warned that this 'will include Israeli civilian aircraft on the target list' – meaning that main national carrier El Al Israel Airlines will be targeted, per Lebanon's Al-Akhbar. Thursday night saw the Houthi military spokesman boast that a missile sent against Ben Gurion airport caused 'millions of usurping Zionists to rush to shelters and bringing the airport to a standstill.' Israeli media has described while confirming the intercept over or near Tel Aviv, 'Since March 18, when the IDF resumed its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis in Yemen have launched 42 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones at Israel. Several of the missiles have fallen short.' One of the Houthis' rare 'successes' was the direct impact of one of the missiles on Ben Gurion airport in early May, which injured several people fleeing the scene. The below is the full translated statement of Ansarallah's Mahdi al-Mashat warning Israel of a 'hot summer' ahead: 'The government of the filthy Netanyahu is unable to protect you, and the coming surprises are painful. To the Zionist herds: You should wait for a hot summer. I say to all companies that continue to arrive at the Ben Gurion Airport … that they are at risk at any moment. I call on all travelers around the world to avoid traveling with companies that continue to fly [there], as they are subject to our sanctions and are not safe,' he said. What's become clear in the wake of Trump's declared 'ceasefire' with the Houthi's in the Red Sea as that the US Navy and CENTCOM have largely pulled back their defense support to Israel in its southern region. There were reports saying that the Pentagon was blowing through costly ammunition at an alarming pace in defense of Israel, and the decision was made to withdraw from the Red Sea theatre.
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Today
Israel destroys last plane at Yemen's airport
Israeli air strikes blew up the last remaining plane at rebel-held Yemen's international airport, Israel and a Yemeni official said on Wednesday, weeks after an earlier attack inflicted major damage. An air raid involving multiple strikes hit the Yemenia Airways plane and the runway at Sanaa airport, the Houthi rebels' Al-Masirah TV channel posted on X, decrying 'Israeli aggression.' Thick black smoke was seen billowing from a stricken plane on the tarmac, in a video posted on X by Sanaa airport director Khaled Al-Shaief who said it was Yemenia's last operational aircraft. The airport had only resumed limited commercial services on May 17, according to Houthi authorities, after it was closed by a heavy Israeli attack that destroyed six planes 11 days earlier. The Houthis, claiming solidarity with the Palestinians, have been firing on Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza war, prompting reprisal strikes from Israel as well as the United States and Britain. Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said fighter jets targeted Houthi 'terror targets' at the airport, a day after the group fired two projectiles at Israel. 'Air Force jets have just struck terror targets of the Houthi terrorist organisation at the airport in Sanaa and destroyed the last aircraft remaining,' he said in a statement. An Israeli military statement said aircraft there 'were used by the Houthi terrorist organisation for the transfer of terrorists who advanced terrorist attacks against the state of Israel'. According to a statement from Yemenia, the plane was about to be boarded by Muslim pilgrims bound for the annual hajj pilgrimage in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The Houthis began their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in November 2023, weeks after the start of the Israel-Hamas war, prompting British and US military strikes beginning in January 2024. Earlier this month, the United States agreed a ceasefire with the Houthi, ending weeks of intense American strikes on rebel-held areas. However, the Houthi have continued to fire frequent projectiles at Israel, including strikes targeting Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. Earlier this month, Israel threatened to target the Houthi leadership. United Nations special envoy Hans Grundberg warned in a statement that clashes between the Houthis and Israel are 'exacerbating an already very fragile situation for Yemen and the region'. Agence France-Presse
Al Jazeera
3 days ago
- General
- Al Jazeera
Video: Israeli attack in Yemen destroys airline's ‘last plane'
NewsFeed Video: Israeli attack in Yemen destroys airline's 'last plane' Officials in Yemen say an Israeli attack on Sanaa airport has destroyed the last passenger plane operated by the country's main airline, Yemenia Airways.
Gulf Insider
3 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Israeli 'Retaliation' Strikes On Yemen Destroy Airliners
'This is a clear message and a continuation of our policy: Whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price.' That's Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's fresh warning issued after recent Houthi ballistic missile launches targeting Israel. Houthi-affiliated news outlet Al Masirah TV reported on Wednesday that fresh Israeli attacks have destroyed a main runway at Sanaa International Airport. This was in apparent retaliation for two Houthi missiles fired on Israel the day prior, at a moment Yemeni military leadership (Ansarallah) has vowed it will remain undeterred in support of Gaza. Civilian planes of national operator Yemenia Airways were also destroyed, as some photos have confirmed, with Khaled al-Shaief, general director of the airport, stating that all civilian planes have been completely has cited some $500 million in losses and described, 'The enemy destroyed the terminals at Sanaa airport, including all equipment and devices.' He added that a warehouse has been 'completely leveled' – with Yemenia Airways losing three planes in the fresh attack, brining to total number of destroyed airliners to six. Al Jazeera says that one of the newly destroyed Yemenia planes was scheduled to take those performing the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia – and it doesn't appear there are any 'alternative' flights. But Katz dismissed these as Houthi 'terror targets' while confirming that the Israeli Air Force has 'destroyed the last aircraft remaining.' Tel Aviv has long alleged that Sanaa airport doubles as a Houthi and Iranian military transport hub. Also read: Israel Finance Minister calls for building a Jewish temple on site of Al-Aqsa Mosque and expansion of Israel's borders
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Yemeni Minister: Houthis to Blame for Repeated Chaos Impeding Hajj Pilgrims' Travel to Saudi Arabia
Yemen's Minister of Awqaf and Guidance Dr. Mohammed Shabeeb held the Iran-backed Houthi militias fully responsible for the repeated chaos in organizing the travel of Yemeni Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. He made his remarks in wake of Israel destroying the last remaining plane at Yemen's Houthi-held Sanaa International Airport on Wednesday. An air raid involving multiple strikes hit the Yemenia Airways plane and the runway at the airport. According to a statement from Yemenia, the plane was about to be boarded by Muslim pilgrims bound for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah. Dozens of travelers were forced to return home. In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Shabeeb said that last year, the Houthis hijacked four Yemenia planes, leaving 1,300 Hajj travelers stranded in Saudi Arabia. 'Only lawless gangs commit such crimes,' he charged, noting how the Houthis defied all legitimate government and regional calls to cease such actions. He recalled how the Houthis turned down all regional mediations that suggested that the planes be transported to another secure airport in Yemen or outside the country, slamming their 'intransigence and clear undermining of the lives of civilians and Hajj pilgrims.' 'What made matters worse was that they later left the planes in unsafe areas, leaving them exposed to the Israeli attacks in Sanaa,' added the minister. The planes were ultimately attacked and destroyed because the militias refused to set the planes aside in their conflict with Israel despite the danger, Shabeeb lamented. 'What happened today is a direct result of this recklessness. The last Yemenia jet at Sanaa airport has been destroyed, forcing dozens of Hajj pilgrims to return home,' he remarked. 'The Ministry of Awqaf and Guidance is addressing the fallout from the terrorist Zionist attack that was sparked by the Iran-backed terrorist Houthi militias,' he confirmed Seventy-eight pilgrims were left stranded and efforts are underway to transport them to Saudi Arabia through the Wadia land crossing. Shabeeb vowed that his ministry will carry out all possible efforts to ensure that they secure the pilgrims' right to perform the Hajj despite the 'deliberate obstacles and dangers' caused by the Houthis.
