Conflict Ignites: Houthis and Saudi-Led Coalition Trade Strikes, Ending Long-Standing Truce
A fragile, four-year-old informal truce in Yemen has shattered following a rapid escalation of air strikes and missile attacks between the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s internationally-recognized government.
On Monday, the Houthis launched a barrage of missiles targeting the Abha airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition reported that its air defense systems successfully intercepting the missiles, resulting in zero casualties.
The missile strike was a direct retaliation for airstrikes targeting the runway of Sanaa’s international airport earlier that day.
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The escalation began on Monday afternoon when social media footage captured thick plumes of smoke rising over the capital city of Sanaa.
The Houthis’ state-run al-Masirah TV confirmed that the airport’s “departure and landing runways” had been bombed.
The internationally-recognized Yemeni government, operating from the southern port of Aden, claimed responsibility for the airport strike.
According to the Yemeni Ministry of Defense, the attack was a preventative measure to block an unapproved Iranian plane from landing.
The Yemeni Defense Ministry stated:
“The terrorist Houthi militias, backed by the Iranian regime, prevented Yemeni national aircraft from landing at the airport in the capital, Sanaa, while insisting on allowing an Iranian plane to violate Yemeni territory; consequently, the airport runway was targeted.”
The escalation began on Monday afternoon when social media footage captured thick plumes of smoke rising over the capital city of Sanaa.
The Houthis’ state-run al-Masirah TV confirmed that the airport’s “departure and landing runways” had been bombed.
The internationally-recognized Yemeni government, operating from the southern port of Aden, claimed responsibility for the airport strike.
According to the Yemeni Ministry of Defense, the attack was a preventative measure to block an unapproved Iranian plane from landing.
The Yemeni Defense Ministry stated:
“The terrorist Houthi militias, backed by the Iranian regime, prevented Yemeni national aircraft from landing at the airport in the capital, Sanaa, while insisting on allowing an Iranian plane to violate Yemeni territory; consequently, the airport runway was targeted.”
The dispute reportedly centered around a plane carrying a Houthi delegation returning from Iran after attending the funeral of the late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Blocked from Sanaa, the Iranian aircraft was forced to divert and land in the Red Sea port city of Hudaydah, roughly 150 kilometers (93 miles) to the southwest.
For over a decade, all aircraft entering Yemeni airspace have been required to obtain clearance from the Saudi-led coalition, which operates at the request of the official Yemeni government.
Despite the Yemeni government taking credit for the runway strike, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree laid the blame squarely on Saudi Arabia.
Saree declared that the strikes on Sanaa effectively terminated the “de-escalation phase” of the conflict, warning that the action would not go “unanswered or unpunished.”
BY BALOGUN FAVOUR
