Houthis, Assessing $500 Million Damage from Israeli Strikes on Airport, Vow Response

Israel’s attack on the airport in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa destroyed terminal buildings and caused half a billion dollars in damage, its director told Houthi media on Wednesday, May 7. 

Israel launched two days of strikes in response to the group’s repeated missile and drone attacks on the country, including one missile that hit inside the grounds of Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday. However, on Tuesday the US announced it would end its own bombing campaign against the Houthis who, it said, had agreed to stop attacking ships in vital Middle East maritime routes.

The agreement did not cover the Houthis’ attacks on Israel, and already on Wednesday, a drone launched apparently from Yemen was intercepted by the Israeli Air Force. Khaled al-Shaief, the director of the Sanaa airport, told the rebels’ media on Wednesday that some $500 million in losses were caused by the Israeli strikes. 

“The enemy destroyed the terminals at Sanaa airport, including all equipment and devices,” he said, adding that a warehouse was also “completely leveled.” He noted that Yemenia Airways lost three planes, adding that a total of six planes had been destroyed.

“There are alternatives to temporarily reopen the airport, and we need a long time to rehabilitate it and restore operations,” he said. The IDF said that the airport was used by the Houthis “for transferring weapons and operatives, and is regularly operated by the Houthi regime for terror purposes.” (TOI/VFI News)

“Dear Lord, we pray in Yeshua's Name that You protect us from all terror organizations wishing to harm us. Please, strengthen our defense personnel and alert them at all times so they can intercept any incoming attacks efficiently. We pray that You remove the terrorists from society once and for all. We pray that we can have peace with all our neighbors and prosper in the land You have given us.”