Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Vows to Protect Airspace Sovereignty After Iranian Flight to Sana’a

Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:

The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) held an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss Iran’s operation of a direct flight to Sana’a International Airport, which is under Houthi control, describing the move as a violation of Yemen’s sovereignty and a breach of international law.

In a statement issued after the meeting, chaired by PLC Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi and attended by all council members, the council said the flight constituted a new escalation. It argued that the move reflects Iran’s continued support for the Houthis and undermines the peace efforts led by the United Nations and regional parties to end the conflict.

The statement added that the council received briefings from Prime Minister Salem bin Buraik, Foreign Minister Shaea Al-Zandani, and other government officials on the implications of the flight. It stressed that the Yemeni government would take the necessary political, diplomatic, and legal measures to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and maintain control over its airspace and border crossings.

The council accused the Houthi group of continuing to obstruct efforts toward a political settlement and of worsening Yemen’s economic and humanitarian crisis through military escalation and attacks on maritime navigation. It held both the Houthis and Iran responsible for the consequences of the latest development.

The statement called on the United Nations, the UN Security Council, and international partners to take “deterrent” measures to prevent what it described as Iranian violations and to tighten oversight of channels used to support, arm, and finance the Houthis.

Earlier, the Houthi group confirmed that an Iranian civilian aircraft had arrived at Sana’a International Airport carrying patients, wounded individuals, and stranded people affiliated with the group. The aircraft later flew a Houthi delegation to Iran to attend the funeral of Iran’s Supreme Leader.

The group also affirmed that flights between Sana’a and Tehran would continue “regardless of the consequences or repercussions.”