By Faisal Abu Bakr | 2026-11-13

Iran-backed Houthis launched a missile strike against Aden International Airport on October 28, effectively paralyzing the nation’s primary gateway for international humanitarian relief.

Hundreds of stranded travelers and patients were forced to evacuate the facility as authorities were compelled to divert all incoming air traffic immediately.

The brutal assault came shortly after the militia issued a late evacuation warning, leaving civilians within the airport with almost no time to flee.

Days earlier, on October 26, the group demonstrated its utter disregard for civilian safety by forcing a Doctors Without Borders aircraft to remain grounded.

The humanitarian crew preparing for takeoff was forced to seek emergency shelter when a missile landed dangerously close to their relief plane.

Weaponizing isolation against civilians

Yemeni Deputy Minister of Information Fayyad al-Numan condemned the strike as a grave assault on both a civilian facility and national sovereign infrastructure.

"This is a direct assault on the right of the Yemeni people to travel and connect with the outside world. It's a clear attempt to impose military extortion upon Aden," al-Numan told Al-Fassel.

The airport serves as a vital artery for southern provinces, facilitating the essential entry of life-saving medical supplies, food and specialized technical equipment.

Any disruption to airport operations produces an immediate, catastrophic impact on relief efforts, exacerbating the suffering of patients awaiting urgent medical treatment abroad.

Al-Numan emphasized that the gravity of these assaults extends beyond infrastructure, threatening the foundational pillars of civilian life in liberated Yemeni territories.

Stability and public security

The Yemeni government remains steadfast in its partnership with international organizations to safeguard these sovereign facilities and maintain the steady flow of aid.

Citizens remain defiant, asserting that such barbaric militia tactics will not deter their fundamental right to security, stability and a decent, peaceful life.

Protecting airports, ports and all civilian facilities remains a non-negotiable legal and humanitarian responsibility that the state is determined to uphold for its citizens.