An Iranian passenger plane transporting a senior Houthi delegation successfully landed in Houthi-controlled Hodeidah in western Yemen. This occurred after airstrikes, reportedly by the Yemeni Armed Forces, targeted Sanaa International Airport to prevent the plane from landing. The Mahan Air aircraft managed to land in Hodeidah after being denied entry into the Houthi-held capital, as confirmed by a military commander from the Houthi group.
Yemen’s internationally recognized government responded by ordering the closure of all airports in the country. Additionally, civilian flight operations were suspended until further notice, as per reports from Xinhua news agency. The Yemeni Armed Forces claimed responsibility for the strikes on Sanaa airport, citing that the runway was targeted. This action was taken after the Houthis refused government proposals for the Houthi delegation to return from Tehran on a non-Iranian aircraft under government supervision.
The Houthi delegation’s trip to Iran was for the funeral ceremonies of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Earlier on the same day, Yemen’s Defence Minister Taher al-Aqili issued a warning that any “hostile aircraft” breaching Yemen’s airspace would be intercepted. The government had exhausted efforts to persuade the Houthis and Iran to cease the “repeated violations” of Yemen’s sovereignty.
Local residents reported hearing multiple explosions in and around Sanaa airport, accompanied by visible plumes of smoke. The Houthi group condemned the strikes as a significant escalation, attributing them to Saudi Arabia, a key ally of Yemen’s government. The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, vowed a response to the attack, while its political bureau indicated the start of a “new phase” in countering Saudi Arabia.
The recent escalation follows a period of heightened tensions between Yemen’s conflicting factions regarding direct flights connecting Tehran and Sanaa. Last week, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council called for an international inquiry into an Iranian plane that landed in Sanaa. The council alleged that the flight carried Iranian military personnel, drone and missile experts, and Yemeni trainees under the guise of a civilian operation. The Houthis dismissed these claims, maintaining that the flight was purely civilian in nature.
