Yemeni Government Describes Houthi Ban on First Flight Landing at Mokha Airport as “Dangerous Escalation”
Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Ministry of Transport and the General Authority for Civil Aviation and Meteorology in the temporary capital, Aden, condemned the Houthi group for preventing a Yemenia Airways flight from landing at Mokha International Airport in Taiz Governorate. The flight was arriving from the Saudi city of Jeddah.
In a joint statement, the Ministry and the Authority considered this action a dangerous escalation aimed at disrupting efforts to revitalize air navigation and facilitate citizen travel. They described it as a blatant violation of international civil aviation laws and regulations, and an unjustified restriction on the freedom of movement and the right of citizens to safe travel.
The statement held the Houthis fully responsible for these practices, emphasizing that targeting airports and civilian flights primarily harms citizens and undermines humanitarian and service efforts intended to alleviate their suffering.
Furthermore, the statement called upon the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and all relevant organizations and bodies to take the necessary legal measures, fulfill their role in protecting Yemen’s civil aviation sector, and hold those involved in these violations accountable.
The statement reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry and the Authority to continue working to ensure the ongoing operation of airports and to secure air transport services for citizens, away from any actions that obstruct this vital sector.
