Riyadh: The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognized government vowed Saturday to respond "with unprecedented determination and force" to any attempt to target Saudi Arabia or violate Yemen's sovereignty, following threats from Yemen's Houthi group.
According to Anadolu Agency, coalition spokesperson Turki al-Malki stated that the Houthi threats against the kingdom were "merely an attempt to divert attention away from their grave violations against the brotherly people of Yemen." He accused the group of trying "to export the economic disasters and Yemeni suffering they have caused," while also deflecting attention from the rejection they face from Yemeni tribal and social groups onto neighboring countries.
Al-Malki highlighted that Saudi Arabia, the coalition, and international partners had worked to alleviate Yemeni suffering caused by the Houthi takeover and to resolve the crisis through a roadmap accepted by Yemen's government. He claimed the Houthis rejected this roadmap and instead attacked shipping lanes and international trade in the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.
"The Coalition will respond with unprecedented determination and force to any and all attempts to target the Kingdom, its citizens and residents and national assets, or any attempt to violate the sovereignty of the brotherly Republic of Yemen in a manner that conforms with the Customary International Humanitarian Law," al-Malki emphasized.
The coalition's statement came after Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree threatened a "comprehensive" response targeting Saudi airports and vital interests. Saree claimed Houthi forces had used air defense missiles to force Saudi warplanes to abandon an attempt to block an Iranian civilian flight from landing at Sanaa International Airport on Friday. He stated the aircraft carried more than 200 stranded, injured, and sick passengers.
This incident marked the first publicly confirmed Iranian flight to Sanaa airport in roughly a decade, as reported by Yemeni media, although Iran had not officially confirmed the flight as of Saturday. Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council held an emergency meeting Friday, labeling the flight a "flagrant violation" of Yemen's sovereignty and a "blatant defiance" of international law and UN Security Council resolutions. The council urged the UN to move "from condemnation to deterrent action" against Iran.