Sanaa, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : The Houthi group in Yemen has issued a stern warning to international airlines on Monday, advising them against operating in Saudi airspace. They stated that the increasing military confrontations between the two sides could turn the skies over Saudi Arabia into a “battlefield.”
In a statement broadcasted on their Al-Masirah TV channel, the Houthi-operated Humanitarian Operations Coordination Center emphasized that this notice is directed at all airlines operating within Saudi airspace, aiming to ensure the safety of civilian flights and passengers.
According to reports from the Xinhua news agency, the Houthis claimed that Saudi military aircraft have been conducting attacks on areas controlled by the group in Yemen. Consequently, they deemed Saudi airspace unsafe for civilian flights.
The statement did not specify when or where Houthi operations might occur, nor did it outline which airports or air corridors might be affected.
Saudi officials have not yet responded to this warning.
This advisory comes at a time of escalating violence in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition launched extensive air operations on Monday, announcing “strategic attacks” on Houthi-controlled Sana’a. The coalition reported that over 100 fighter jets participated in “Operation Dawn of Yemen,” claiming to have destroyed 324 Houthi targets since the operation’s inception.
Meanwhile, Yemeni government forces initiated a counterattack against Houthi positions near the strategically important Bab al-Mandeb Strait. According to military officials, the objective is to reclaim areas recently taken by the Houthi group around one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.
An official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, noted that the government forces, supported by local tribal fighters, have begun advancing in the Dhubab district of southwestern Taiz province. This area is crucial for monitoring routes leading to the Strait.
The official reported that the forces are making progress on multiple fronts in Dhubab. They indicated that government troops have recaptured several positions and disrupted supply routes used by Houthi fighters to reinforce their presence near Bab al-Mandeb.
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