File image.
The Houthis (Ansar Allah) on July 3 accused Saudi Arabia of violating Yemen’s airspace, threatening to respond by targeting the kingdom’s airports and vital assets.
In a statement, Houthi spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said that the group confronted Saudi “warplanes” that allegedly attempted to prevent an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing at Sanaa International Airport.
The Houthis possess fairly capable air defenses, from man-portable systems, to interceptors, and even medium-range anti-aircraft missiles. In recent months, the Iran-backed group shot down at least two American MQ-9 Reaper combat drones over Yemen.
“On the morning of Friday, at 5:20 AM, a formation of Saudi enemy warplanes violated the airspace of the Yemeni provinces in an attempt to prevent an Iranian civilian plane carrying more than 200 stranded, wounded, and sick citizens from landing at Sana’a International Airport, which, along with Yemen, has been under an unjust blockade for nearly 11 years,” the spokesman said. “Thanks to God, their attempt failed, as the Yemeni armed forces confronted this attempt by targeting it with a number of air defense missiles, and they were forced to leave the airspace by the will and power of God.”
Saree went on to warn “the criminal Saudi enemy” against further violations, vowing that such actions will be met with “a comprehensive response targeting its airports and vital interests on land and sea.”
Additionally, the spokesman stressed the Houthis will not accept the continuation of the “unjust Saudi-American blockade” on Yemen indefinitely.
“We will take all legitimate steps to end this blockade,” he warned, adding that the group is read to break the Saudi-American siege if orders are given.
Saree also thanked Iran for the flight to Sanaa, which he revealed also carried popular delegation participating in the funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He further said that flights between Sana’a and Tehran will continue to “break the siege and the suffering of our dear, oppressed Yemeni people, no matter what the results and repercussions may be.”
It’s worth noting that the flight was carried out by Mahan Air, a privately owned Iranian airline based in Tehran with reported links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Saudi Arabia has not yet addressed the recent threats and accusations from the Houthis, which came amid rising tensions in Yemen over a tribal conflict threatening the renewal of war.
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