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Houthis Threaten Retaliation Over Sanaa Airport Standoff

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have issued a blunt warning to Saudi Arabia, threatening to strike major airports and infrastructure after accusing the Saudi-led coalition of obstructing an Iranian civilian flight. The standoff marks a sharp escalation in regional tensions following the forced diversion of an aircraft bound for Sanaa.

Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea confirmed that rebel forces confronted Saudi warplanes during the incident, which occurred as an Iranian plane attempted to land at Sanaa International Airport. Despite the aggressive maneuvers, the group maintains that air links between the Yemeni capital and Tehran will continue. The flight in question was intended to transport an official delegation to Iran for the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while also evacuating over 200 patients seeking medical care abroad.

The conflict traces back to 2015, when Saudi Arabia organized a military coalition to counter the Houthi takeover of Sanaa. Since then, the group has developed a sophisticated arsenal of drones and missiles, frequently targeting Saudi oil installations and strategic sites. Sarea’s latest declaration signals a departure from recent de-escalation efforts, effectively placing critical Saudi infrastructure back in the crosshairs as both sides navigate this latest breach of Yemeni airspace.

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