Sana'a: The internationally recognized Yemeni government's aviation authority announced the closure of all airports to air traffic until further notice, following an incident where Sanaa airport's runway was struck to prevent an Iranian plane from landing. "We will not allow any aircraft to violate our airspace, whether it be Sana'a Airport or any other airport. We will deter any attempt to impose a fait accompli that infringes on our sovereignty," Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, stated via the official Saba news agency.
According to Anadolu Agency, Al-Alimi emphasized the importance of avoiding the expansion of confrontations to prevent Tehran from dragging Yemen and its people into conflicts that serve its interests in the regional strife. Earlier, the Defense Ministry reported that its forces targeted the Sanaa airport runway after the Houthis blocked Yemeni flights from landing and permitted the Iranian plane to land, which was described as a 'violation of Yemeni territory.'
In light of the escalating tensions, the Yemeni government declared itself in a permanent session and established a crisis team to manage military, political, diplomatic, legal, and media responses. During a meeting in the temporary capital, Aden, under Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani, the Cabinet stated that all efforts to prevent further escalation had been exhausted. The government accused the Houthis of rejecting legal solutions and inviting foreign intervention.
The Cabinet asserted it would take all necessary measures to protect Yemen's sovereignty and instructed the defense and interior ministries, along with other relevant agencies, to maintain high military readiness to defend the country's airspace, territory, and border crossings. Meanwhile, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree vowed retaliation against the strike, accusing Saudi Arabia of carrying out the attack on Sanaa airport and declaring the end of the ceasefire with the Yemeni government. There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities regarding the Houthis' claims.