Houthis tally damage from Sanaa airport attack at $500 million, say terminals, planes destroyed

Israel’s attack on the airport in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa destroyed terminal buildings and caused $500 million in damage, its director tells Houthi media.

“Around $500 million in losses were caused by the Israeli aggression on Sanaa airport,” its general director Khaled alShaief tells the rebels’ Al-Masirah television.

“The enemy destroyed the terminals at Sanaa airport, including all equipment and devices,” he says, adding that a warehouse was also “completely leveled.”

Yemenia Airways lost three planes, he says, adding that six planes in total had been destroyed.

“There are alternatives to temporarily reopen the airport, and we need a long time to rehabilitate it and restore operations,” he says.

Sanaa’s airport reopened to international flights after a six-year gap in 2022, offering regular service to Jordan’s capital, Amman, on the homegrown Yemenia airline.

Those flying out of Sanaa have included Yemenis seeking emergency medical treatment abroad.

Houthi health ministry spokesman Anees Alasbahi tells AFP the attack will “increase human suffering for sick people who need to travel abroad for treatment” and could make it harder to bring medical supplies in.