[4] It took place as part of multiple Israeli airstrikes in Yemen in December amidst the Houthi involvement in the Israel–Hamas war.

[5] The airstrikes, which took place on 26 December, were carried out by 25 Israeli Air Force warplanes during a speech by Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.

Key targets included the airport's control tower, which was disabled, and civilian aircraft allegedly used by the Houthi government.

Reports indicated casualties and damage to infrastructure, with claims by the Houthi state controlled Al Masirah TV that some targets were civilian.

[17] World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and a United Nations team were about to board a plane at the Sanaa airport at the time of the strikes.