Houthi Forces Claim They Fired Missiles at Saudi Jets to Protect Iranian Plane in Yemen Airspace

The Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, announced on Friday morning that Saudi fighter jets attempted to prevent an Iranian passenger plane from landing at Sanaa International Airport in Yemen. According to Saree, the incident occurred around 05:20 local time when the Saudi jets entered Yemeni airspace to block the Iranian plane, which carried over 200 passengers including wounded individuals, sick people, Yemeni civilians stranded abroad, and an official delegation returning from the funeral of Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Saree claimed that Houthi air defense forces launched several surface-to-air missiles at the Saudi jets, forcing them to retreat and allowing the Iranian aircraft to land safely. He warned that any further Saudi violations of Yemeni airspace or attacks on the country would be met with a "comprehensive response," targeting airports and critical infrastructure within Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis also stated their intention to continue operating flights between Sanaa and Tehran, describing the move as an effort to "break the siege" on Yemen. They expressed gratitude to Iran for facilitating the transport of wounded individuals, civilians, and the delegation involved in Khamenei's funeral. These claims have so far only been reported by Houthi-affiliated media such as Al-Mayadeen, with no independent verification or official responses from Saudi Arabia or Iran regarding the alleged aerial confrontation.