Human Rights Watch has described the Israeli airstrikes targeting Sanaa International Airport on May 6 and 28 as potential war crimes, emphasizing the urgent need to investigate these attacks, which struck civilian infrastructure.

In a report published on its official website on Tuesday, the organization stated that the Israeli strikes destroyed all commercial passenger aircraft operating from the airport, depriving civilians of their right to travel and significantly hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid and relief workers to Yemen.

According to the report, the airstrikes may have been indiscriminate or disproportionate, necessitating an investigation into their potential violation of international humanitarian law.

The organization stressed the importance of holding those responsible for these violations accountable to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in conflict zones.

Human Rights Watch pointed out that the destroyed passenger aircraft belonged to Yemenia Airways — the only available air carrier for residents of Sanaa — further isolating the population and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The airport had been considered the only gateway for patients seeking medical treatment abroad.

Based on an analysis of aerial imagery and footage broadcast by Al-Masirah TV, the organization confirmed that the airstrikes destroyed at least eight aircraft, including a cargo plane, and caused extensive damage to the airport’s infrastructure.

The report also noted that the airport strikes followed attacks launched by Sanaa government forces on Ben Gurion Airport, one of which injured four people. The Sanaa forces claim these attacks are part of a military campaign aimed at pressuring for an end to the aggression on Gaza and the opening of humanitarian corridors.

Niku Jafarnia, a researcher on Yemen and Bahrain at Human Rights Watch, stated that Sanaa Airport is a vital lifeline for the country’s population, particularly for patients needing to travel for treatment. She described the destruction of the airport as a “deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure” and a direct threat to civilian lives.