Houthis say they forced Saudi warplanes to retreat during Iranian passenger flight

Yemen's Houthi movement said its armed forces confronted Saudi warplanes on July 3 after they allegedly attempted to prevent an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing at Sana'a International Airport, warning of retaliation if similar incidents occur again.

In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group's air defences fired several surface-to-air missiles at Saudi aircraft that had entered Yemeni airspace, forcing them to withdraw, Caliber.Az reports per Yemeni media. 

According to the Houthis, the Iranian aircraft was carrying more than 200 passengers, including stranded Yemenis, wounded people and patients, and was able to land safely at Sana'a International Airport.

The group described the incident as the beginning of a "new phase" in its response to restrictions on Yemen's airspace and said it would no longer accept what it called the U.S.- and Saudi-backed blockade of Sana'a International Airport.

The Houthis warned that any future attempts to block civilian flights or carry out military action against Yemen would be met with "a comprehensive and direct response" targeting Saudi airports and other strategic infrastructure.

The movement also said flights between Sana'a and Tehran would continue despite the restrictions, describing the route as an effort to ease humanitarian suffering. It praised Iran for operating the flight, which it said transported patients, stranded Yemenis and an official delegation.

Sana'a International Airport has operated under severe restrictions for years following the outbreak of Yemen's civil war in 2014. The conflict, which has drawn in a Saudi-led military coalition backing the internationally recognised government against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, has left the country facing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

By Sabina Mammadli