Yemen’s Houthi rebels threaten Saudi Arabia with attacks on ports and airports

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have accused Saudi Arabia of dispatching fighter jets to prevent a civilian aircraft from landing in the capital Sana’a. The Iranian-backed militant group claimed that Saudi warplanes intercepted the passenger plane in what they characterise as an act of aggression.

In response to the alleged incident, a Houthi spokesman issued a stark warning to the kingdom, threatening a broad escalation of hostilities. The rebels vowed that any continuation of what they describe as Saudi “aggression” would be met with a comprehensive response targeting airports, seaports and vital economic interests on both land and sea.

The threat represents the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition that has been intervening in Yemen’s civil war since 2015. The rebels have previously launched attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including oil facilities and airports, using drones and missiles. The blockade of Sana’a airport has been a longstanding source of tension, with humanitarian organisations warning that flight restrictions exacerbate Yemen’s dire humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Arabia has not immediately commented on the Houthi allegations regarding the interception. The incident comes amid broader regional tensions and underscores the precarious security situation affecting civilian aviation in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.