Houthi forces accuse Saudi airstrikes of hitting Sana’a airport, saying the first Iranian direct flight in nearly a decade was blocked

BlockBeats message, July 13, Reuters reports that Yemen’s Houthi forces accused Saudi Arabia of launching airstrikes on Sana’a International Airport, saying the strikes were intended to prevent an aircraft from Iran from landing. The Houthis said this was the first publicly announced Iranian flight flying directly to Sana’a in nearly a decade. Saudi authorities have yet to confirm the airstrikes.

A Houthi spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said that multiple Saudi airstrikes on the Sana’a airport mean the de-escalation phase between the two sides has ended, and warned that Saudi Arabia will bear the corresponding consequences. The Houthis then announced a full mobilization and warned that if they face further military strikes, they may carry out attacks on airports and strategic facilities inside Saudi territory.

The report said the incident occurred shortly after an Iranian passenger aircraft arrived at the Sana’a airport. Yemen’s government and the Saudi-led coalition believe the flight is linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and violates relevant United Nations resolutions; the Houthis said the flight is for civilian and humanitarian missions. Analysts believe the incident may further undermine the relatively fragile ceasefire situation since 2022, and increase security risks for Red Sea shipping.