Houthis Reject ‘Yemeni Presidential Council Initiative’ for the Return of Their Delegation from Iran
Yemen Monitor / Sana’a / Exclusive:
The Houthi armed group on Friday rejected an initiative by Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council to return its delegation visiting Iran via Yemenia Airways, and threatened to “reopen Sana’a Airport by force” if flights between Sana’a and Tehran do not continue.
Officials in the group confirmed that the delegation would return to the capital, Sana’a, from Tehran aboard the same Iranian aircraft, while stressing that the group would not yield to any pressure or measures that might prevent the flight from arriving.
Mohammed Meftah, head of the internationally unrecognized Houthi government, said during a gathering of the movement’s supporters in Sana’a that any prevention of aircraft from flying in the airspace over areas under their control would mean that “they will pay a heavy price, and they should realize that,” in a threat directed at Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah Al-Nuaimi, a member of the movement’s Supreme Political Council, said in a televised interview, threatening Saudi Arabia: “The current phase carries major changes in our favor, and they should realize that.”
The group thanked Iran after an aircraft belonging to the Iranian airline Mahan Air, in what it described as “breaking the air blockade,” transported a delegation from Sana’a to Tehran on 3 July.
Earlier on Friday, the Presidential Leadership Council announced its approval for the return of a Houthi delegation from Tehran to Sana’a aboard an aircraft chartered by Yemenia Airways. This sparked anger among Yemenis. The council said that Iran had submitted a request through the Arab Coalition to return the delegation to Sana’a on an Iranian aircraft.
Earlier on Friday, a Yemeni government official told Yemen Monitor that the Presidential Leadership Council had proposed alternatives, including transporting the delegation to the Sultanate of Oman on an Iranian aircraft, after which an Omani or Yemeni airline, or United Nations aircraft, would take them to Sana’a International Airport in an effort to defuse the crisis.
Hizam Al-Assad, a member of the movement’s political bureau, said: “Civilian flights between Sana’a and Tehran will continue, even if this requires paralyzing the operations of all Saudi airports.”
After the Iranian aircraft arrived at Sana’a Airport, the Houthi military spokesman threatened to target vital Saudi interests if the Kingdom halted flights between Sana’a and Tehran.
The Presidential Leadership Council affirmed that Yemenia Airways remains ready to resume commercial flights from Sana’a Airport to the Jordanian capital, Amman, and other destinations, provided that the necessary guarantees are given to protect the aircraft and crews and that there is no interference in the company’s management or operational activities.
