Yemen Blocks Iranian Plane From Landing at Houthi-Controlled Sanaa Airport

SANAA, July 19: Yemen’s internationally recognized government said Sunday it prevented an Iranian aircraft from completing its flight to Sanaa International Airport, which is controlled by the Iran-backed Houthi movement, citing a lack of required approvals.

Yemen’s Transport Minister Mohsen Al-Amri said no flights would be permitted to operate without obtaining authorization through official channels approved by the internationally recognized government.

“The flight did not go through the approved official channels and procedures,” Al-Amri said in comments carried by state-run Al-Yemen TV, without providing further details about the aircraft or the nature of the flight.

There was no immediate response from the Houthi authorities, who control Sanaa airport, or from Iranian officials regarding the reported incident.

The move comes amid escalating tensions over Iranian flights to Yemen. Earlier this week, the Yemeni government said its forces targeted the runway at Sanaa International Airport to prevent another Iranian aircraft from landing.

The Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of being responsible for the strike and responded with missile launches targeting Saudi territory, ending a period of relative calm that had lasted for years.

The latest dispute highlights renewed tensions over control of Yemen’s airspace and the movement of aircraft through Houthi-held areas, as regional tensions continue to rise.