Houthi accuse Saudi of intercepting Iranian flight, warn

Yemen's Houthi movement has accused Saudi Arabia of attempting to intercept an Iranian civilian aircraft bound for the capital, Sanaa, and has threatened retaliatory strikes against Saudi airports and vital infrastructure. The incident, which Houthi officials said occurred on Friday, July 3, has escalated tensions and prompted an emergency meeting by Yemen's internationally recognized government.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that Saudi warplanes violated Yemeni airspace and were repelled by Houthi air-defense missiles, forcing them to withdraw. He claimed the Iranian aircraft was carrying more than 200 Yemeni citizens, including patients and wounded individuals, who had been stranded in Iran. Following the landing, the same aircraft reportedly returned to Tehran carrying an official Houthi delegation to attend the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In response to the alleged incursion, Saree issued a stark warning. He said any further Saudi attempts to violate Yemeni airspace or carry out aggression would be met with a comprehensive response targeting Saudi airports and vital interests on land and at sea. He emphasized that flights on the...