▲ The moment of the airstrike on Sanaa International Airport in Yemen
Yemen's pro-Iranian Houthi rebels announced on July 13 (local time) that they had struck Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia using ballistic missiles and drones.
The Houthi rebels claimed that this attack was a retaliatory measure for Saudi Arabia's airstrike on Sanaa International Airport, the capital of Yemen.
Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthi rebels, issued a warning to global airlines in a televised statement that day, advising them not to enter Saudi airspace.
He stated, "Airlines should take this warning regarding the passage through airspace seriously until the Saudi blockade on Sanaa International Airport is lifted."
Earlier that day, the Houthi rebels declared an abrupt end to the ceasefire with Saudi Arabia, alleging that Saudi Arabia had struck Sanaa International Airport.
In response, the Yemeni Ministry of Defense, which opposes the Houthis, stated, "The Houthi terrorist group, supported by the Iranian regime, blocked Yemeni aircraft from landing at Sanaa Airport while attempting to force the landing of Iranian aircraft violating Yemeni territory." The ministry added, "Consequently, the airport runway was targeted and struck."
According to some foreign media reports, Houthi leadership was on board the Iranian aircraft attempting to land at Sanaa Airport, and the plane eventually turned back and landed at Hodeidah Airport, which is under the control of the Houthi rebels.
Meanwhile, Muammar Al-Eryani, Yemen's Minister of Information, stated that the Houthi rebels are detaining an aircraft belonging to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at Sanaa Airport and have held the captain and first officer.
Hashem Oseiran, an ICRC spokesperson for the Middle East, stated, "The safety of all ICRC staff and the crew of the aircraft in question has been confirmed," but declined to provide further comment.
The armed conflict on this day not only jeopardizes the fragile ceasefire in Yemen but could also dampen broader diplomatic efforts to ease regional tensions linked to the war in Iran.
Saudi Arabia has remained one step removed from the war in Iran and has not faced the same level of security threats from Iran as other Gulf nations.
However, if armed conflict between the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia resumes, the situation could change rapidly.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
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