Arabic version: التحالف السعودي يتعهد برد قوي على تهديدات الحوثيين
The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government has pledged to respond with “unprecedented determination and force” to any attempts to target the kingdom or violate Yemeni sovereignty. This announcement comes in the wake of recent Houthi threats and the arrival of an Iranian civilian flight in the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa. According to Al Jazeera, coalition spokesperson Major-General Turki al-Maliki dismissed the Houthi threats as attempts to distract from the group’s actions against the Yemeni people.
Al-Maliki accused the Iran-aligned Houthi movement of trying to export the economic hardships it has caused in Yemen and divert attention from its domestic challenges. He stated that the Houthi claims are part of ongoing escalations and hostile behavior that threaten regional and international security.
On Friday, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree issued a statement threatening a “comprehensive” response targeting Saudi airports and vital interests on land and sea. He claimed that his forces had used air defense missiles to prevent Saudi warplanes from blocking an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing at Sanaa International Airport. This flight marked the first publicly confirmed Iranian civilian aircraft to land in Sanaa in roughly a decade.
Al-Maliki warned that the Houthi military posture has put Yemeni civilian infrastructure at risk, including the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and as-Salif, as well as Sanaa International Airport, power stations, and industrial facilities. He reiterated that the coalition would respond decisively to any attacks on the Kingdom or attempts to undermine Yemeni sovereignty.
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, chaired by President Rashad al-Alimi, condemned the Iranian flight as a violation of Yemeni sovereignty and international law. The council called for deterrent measures from the UN and regional partners against channels supporting and arming the Houthis. This conflict, which began in 2015 when the Houthis seized Sanaa, has led to significant humanitarian crises in the region.
