Yemen targets Sanaa airport runway to block unauthorized Iranian flight

Yemen's Information Minister, Moammar Al-Eryani, declared that the state will not tolerate any new violations and will employ all available political, diplomatic, legal, and military measures to safeguard Yemen's sovereignty. His remarks came after the Yemeni Ministry of Defense announced it had targeted the runway of Sanaa International Airport to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing outside established procedures.

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the state will not tolerate any new violations, and will take all political, diplomatic, legal, and military measures guaranteed by the constitution and international law to prevent any attempt to undermine Yemen’s sovereignty or impose faits accomplis by force.

Al-Eryani reiterated the Yemeni government's consistent stance, emphasizing that all political, diplomatic, and legal avenues have been exhausted. He noted that initiatives to maintain civilian flights through Yemenia Airways, respecting both citizen interests and national sovereignty, were put forth. However, he accused the "terrorist Houthi militia, with direct support from the Iranian regime," of rejecting these initiatives and attempting to impose a "fait accompli" outside state institutions.

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the terrorist Houthi militia, with direct support from the Iranian regime, has rejected these initiatives and insisted on imposing a fait accompli outside the institutions of the state.

The minister assured the Yemeni people that the armed forces and security agencies are on high alert, acting on directives from the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), the National Defense Council, and Cabinet decisions. He stressed their capability to fulfill their constitutional duty to protect Yemen's sovereignty and defend its borders. A crisis management room is actively monitoring developments around the clock, making necessary military, security, and political assessments to protect citizens and national interests.

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the armed forces and security agencies are currently at the highest level of preparedness, in implementation of directives issued by the PLC Chairman, the National Defense Council, and Cabinet decisions.

Al-Eryani placed full responsibility for any escalation and its consequences on "the Houthi militia and the Iranian regime," accusing them of rejecting peaceful initiatives and continuing to violate international law. He highlighted the government's success in preventing the Iranian plane's landing at Sanaa airport, despite the Houthis' actions.

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the Houthi militia and the Iranian regime, which chose to reject all peaceful initiatives and continue violating international law and undermining peace opportunities.