Aden International Airport, a vital civilian infrastructure, has once again been targeted by Houthi forces, raising serious questions about the Yemeni government's effectiveness in deterring such attacks. The recent missile strike damaged the airport's main runway, forcing Yemen's national airline to reroute flights and highlighting persistent security concerns in liberated areas.
Yemen Airways announced that all incoming flights to Aden International Airport would be diverted to Djibouti for refueling and necessary operational checks before proceeding to other liberated airports for passenger disembarkation. The airline's spokesperson, Hatem Al-Shaabi, indicated that this measure reflects the company's apprehension regarding potential destruction of aircraft due to the continuous Houthi assaults on Aden Airport. Consequently, all eight scheduled flights to and from Aden for Thursday were canceled, with only three flights operating from Socotra and Al-Rayan airports in Hadhramaut.
The Ministry of Transport condemned the repeated targeting of Aden International Airport, noting that Wednesday's ballistic missile attack was the sixth of its kind in recent days. The ministry reiterated its warnings about the direct threat to passengers, aircrews, and airport personnel, as well as the grave risks posed to civil aviation. It also called upon the international community and United Nations organizations, particularly the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), to condemn these attacks and take action to protect airports and civilian facilities.
Beyond Aden, Houthi militants also targeted Al-Rayan International Airport in Mukalla, Hadhramaut province, with drones last week. While the ministry and the government have confined their response to condemnation and appeals for international intervention, the fundamental issue of the government's failure to leverage its potential capabilities to counter these threats remains a critical concern. A central element of this is the Houthi control over Yemen's airspace navigation center in Sana'a, a matter that has been repeatedly raised over the years without decisive government action to transfer its authority to Aden.
The continued Houthi control over the air navigation center not only facilitates attacks on civilian infrastructure but also generates substantial revenue. Reports estimate annual earnings from overflight fees to be between $30 and $50 million, which are channeled into accounts controlled by the General Authority of Civil Aviation in Sana'a, despite the government having relocated the authority to Aden nearly a decade ago. A 2019 report from the Houthi-controlled authority in Sana'a indicated revenues of approximately 20 billion Yemeni riyals (around $37.7 million) for that year, with international transit movements in Yemeni airspace approaching pre-war levels.
Despite experts asserting the government's capability to wrest control of the air navigation center from the Houthi militia, the government's stance has remained largely one of condemnation and reliance on international appeals. This passive approach was recently highlighted by the former Minister of Transport, who, in November of the previous year, informed the economic advisor to the UN Envoy for Yemen that the continued Houthi control over the Sana'a air navigation center poses a significant threat to aviation safety and security in Yemen.
