Yemen / Anadolu

Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad al-Alimi affirmed Monday that his country will not allow violation of its airspace or imposition of a fait accompli at Sanaa airport or any other airport, announcing his directives not to expand confrontation to avoid dragging Yemen into a regional conflict.

This came in a second statement by al-Alimi during the day, published by the official Yemeni news agency Saba, following the announcement by government forces of targeting Sanaa airport runway to prevent an Iranian plane from landing.

Al-Alimi said the Houthi group 'insisted, despite the efforts made by brothers and friends, and the mediations and good offices aimed at containing the situation, on imposing a new fait accompli by receiving a new flight in violation of the law.'

He considered that this constitutes 'a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen, a deliberate contempt for state institutions, and an explicit rejection of all efforts that sought to prevent Yemen from sliding into further escalation.'

Al-Alimi added that the armed forces and security agencies were 'at the highest levels of readiness and preparedness' and implemented 'the necessary defensive measures by targeting Sanaa airport runway, to protect national sovereignty.'

He pointed out that the armed forces 'have proven their high efficiency and full ability to deter this threat that affects the airspace of the Republic of Yemen, and to prevent the imposition of any fait accompli outside the framework of the constitution and law.'

Al-Alimi explained that as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, after completing military, security, and political assessments, he directed 'giving priority to protecting civilian lives and preserving public property, and not expanding the scope of confrontation.'

He added that these directives aim to avoid what he described as 'Iran's attempt to drag Yemen and its people into wars that serve its interests, and to use Yemen, land and people, as a card in its regional conflict.'

Al-Alimi stressed that the state 'will not allow any aircraft in the future to violate Yemeni airspace, whether to Sanaa airport or any other airport.'

He affirmed that it will deter any attempt to impose a fait accompli that affects the country's sovereignty or diminishes its authority over its lands, airspace, and all its ports.

This escalation comes after the Yemeni Ministry of Defense announced earlier Monday the targeting of Sanaa airport runway to prevent an Iranian plane from landing.

In contrast, the Houthi group considered this development as the end of de-escalation, accusing Saudi Arabia of targeting the airport with airstrikes.

And threatened that this targeting 'will not pass without a response and punishment.'

As of 15:00 GMT, no comment was issued by Saudi Arabia or the International Coalition to Support Legitimacy, led by Saudi Arabia to support the legitimate Yemeni government, on the Houthi group's accusations.

This is the first announced Iranian flight to arrive at Sanaa airport in about 10 years, according to Yemeni media.

Yemeni authorities previously condemned what they said was Iran sending a 'Mahan' plane to Sanaa on July 3, 2026, to 'transport a Houthi delegation from Sanaa to Tehran.'

Despite intermittent clashes, Yemen has witnessed since April 2022 a truce in a war that began more than 11 years ago between forces of the legitimate government and elements of the Houthi group, which has controlled provinces and cities, including Sanaa in the north of the country, since September 21, 2014.