Yemen's internationally recognized government claims to be behind the attack. The aim was to prevent an Iranian plane from landing in the country. Meanwhile, the Iran-backed Houthis, who have controlled the airport since 2014, accuse Saudi Arabia of being behind the attack.
On the plane was a delegation from the Houthi movement returning from the funeral ceremony for Iran's slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Increased tensions
Tensions between the Houthis - who control large parts of Yemen, including the capital - and the government, which is close to Saudi Arabia, have increased in recent days. This after the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia in early July of attacking an Iranian plane that landed in Sanaa and took off with the delegation on board, writes Al Jazeera
The Houthi movement promised to strike Saudi targets if Riyadh "violated" Yemen's airspace or attempted to attack again.
Excludes escalation
The Houthis and the government agreed to a UN-brokered ceasefire in 2022, which has partially eased the conflict between the parties, although violence has continued. Monday's airport attack therefore marks the biggest escalation in four years.
The escalation between the parties has raised concerns in many quarters. On Monday, the UN envoy for Yemen called on the parties to de-escalate.
The leader of the internationally recognized government says the conflict will not intensify.
"I have also ordered that the scale of the confrontation should not be escalated in a way that would fulfill Iran's goal of dragging Yemen and its people into war," said Rashad al-Alimi, leader of the Presidential Council, during an emergency meeting.
