Sanaa, Yemen. Yemen’s Houthis said on Friday that their forces confronted Saudi “warplanes” that they said tried to prevent an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing at Sanaa International Airport. The group warned it would target Saudi airports and vital interests on land and sea if what it described as Saudi violations of Yemeni airspace continue.
Houthi statement
According to a statement by the group’s military spokesperson Yahya Sarea, flights between Sanaa and Tehran will continue despite any “possible consequences.”
Iranian aircraft arrival
Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said earlier on Friday that an Iranian aircraft arrived in Sanaa and flew the group’s official delegation to Tehran to attend the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. More than 200 patients were among the other passengers on board.
Conflict background
Saudi Arabia led a military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 after the Iran-aligned Houthis seized the capital, Sanaa.
Military capabilities
The Houthis have demonstrated their missile and drone capabilities during the Yemen war in attacks on Saudi Arabia targeting oil installations and vital infrastructure.
