Sana’a Warns Airlines Against Flying Over Saudi Airspace Amid Airport Siege
Yemen’s armed forces have issued an official warning to all international airlines, urging them to avoid flying through Saudi Arabian airspace until the blockade of Sana’a International Airport is lifted. The warning emphasized that this decision is part of a new equation: “airport for airport, siege for siege.”
A media outlet affiliated with these forces stated that Sana’a is committed to breaking the siege on Yemen and described the prolonged suspension of operations at Sana’a International Airport as a “humanitarian crime,” an action that has impacted millions of civilians. The armed forces warned that if the blockade continues, the scope of their responses will expand.
This stance follows a statement by Yahya Sari’, spokesperson for Yemen’s armed forces, who announced a missile and drone attack on Abha International Airport within Saudi territory. He said the operation was carried out in response to what he called the “aggression against Sana’a Airport” and that it successfully hit its intended targets.
According to Yemeni sources, last Monday, Saudi coalition fighter jets launched several airstrikes targeting the runways of Sana’a International Airport, rendering it non-operational. Reports indicate that these attacks coincided with an attempt to prevent the landing of a passenger plane operated by Mahan Airlines carrying a Yemeni delegation returning from attending the funeral of Imam Khamenei, the martyred leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.
Since August 2016, the Saudi-led coalition has imposed a complete flight ban over Yemeni airspace, a measure that has halted commercial flights at Sana’a Airport. This airport serves as one of Yemen’s critical transportation arteries, playing a vital role in passenger movement and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
