Ankara:Yemen's military has raised concerns over the threat posed by Houthi weapons to civilian aircraft and international flight paths in the southern Red Sea region.

According to Anadolu Agency, military spokesman Majid al-Nazili stated that the Houthis have repurposed Iranian air-defense weapons into 'cruise' missiles. These missiles, launched from Hodeidah province, reportedly have the capability to stay airborne for up to 25 minutes and use heat-seeking technology, making them unable to differentiate between military and civilian targets.

Al-Nazili emphasized the potential danger these weapons pose to commercial and humanitarian flights, as well as UN operations in Yemen and the surrounding areas. He characterized their deployment as a significant escalation that extends beyond Yemeni airspace and poses a threat to international aviation routes.

The spokesman also connected these developments to recent Iranian threats to disrupt regional aviation services following sanctions on Iranian airlines. He called on international aviation organizations, including the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Air Transport Association, to take measures in response.

There has been no response from the Houthis or Iran regarding these claims from the Yemeni military.

The ongoing conflict in Yemen began when the Houthi group captured the capital, Sanaa, along with several provinces in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government. Renewed hostilities were reported in July following the Houthis' declaration of a maritime blockade on Riyadh, alongside claims of advances along the Red Sea Coast and Bab el-Mandab Strait, and attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure.