On Sunday, July 19, Abdullah Al-Naami, a senior Houthi official, issued a warning to Saudi Arabia, stating that the country’s valuable targets are within range of the Houthi forces. Speaking to Lebanon-based broadcaster Al Mayadeen from Sanaa, Al-Naami asserted that the Houthis are prepared to pay the highest price to end the blockade imposed on Yemen. He also cautioned that any attempt by Saudi Arabia to prevent flights to or from Sanaa International Airport would trigger a comprehensive response from the Houthis.
The warning comes amid renewed tensions over the Sanaa airport, which was struck by Yemen’s internationally recognised government on Monday to prevent an Iranian aircraft from landing. The Houthis later claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport. The Yemeni Armed Forces also claimed responsibility for the strikes on the Sanaa airport, saying they struck the runway after the Houthis rejected government proposals for the Houthi delegation to return from Tehran aboard a non-Iranian aircraft under government supervision.
The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since late 2014, when the Houthis seized control of Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene in support of the Yemeni government. The situation has been further complicated by the recent announcement of a Jordanian initiative to launch regular commercial flights between Amman and Sanaa, which was welcomed by the Yemeni government but rejected by the Houthis.
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📰 Source: Siasat Gulf