Yemen’s Houthi-aligned armed forces said they confronted Saudi military aircraft that allegedly tried to enter Yemeni airspace near Sanaa early Friday, and threatened Riyadh with strikes on its airports and “vital interests on land and sea” if it happens again.
Military spokesman Yahya Saree said Saudi warplanes attempted the incursion at 5:20 a.m. local time. He said the aim was to block an Iranian civilian aircraft, carrying more than 200 stranded passengers, from landing at Sanaa International Airport, according to Al Jazeera and the Times of Israel. Both outlets reported the claim as unconfirmed. Saudi Arabia has not commented.
Saree said Houthi forces fired on the aircraft and forced them out of Yemeni airspace. No independent source has verified that an engagement occurred or that Saudi aircraft entered the area at all.
“Such actions will be met with a comprehensive response,” Saree said, adding that Houthi forces would not accept the continued Saudi-US blockade on Yemen.
Direct Houthi-Saudi confrontation has been rare since a 2023 de-escalation. Whether Friday’s claim marks a real shift or is a one-sided statement tied to the blockade dispute depends on a Saudi response that has not yet come.
