Yemen's Sanaa Airport Attacked, Conflict Between Saudi Arabia and Houthi Forces Resurfaces

The Houthi armed group in Yemen stated on the 13th that in retaliation for Saudi Arabia's airstrike on the international airport in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, that day, they launched missiles and drones at Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, said on social media that their air defense forces intercepted the missile attacks launched by the Houthi armed group against southern Saudi Arabia.

Earlier that day, the Houthi armed group accused Saudi Arabia of airstrikes on the airport. According to reports from the Houthi-controlled Masirah TV, Saudi Arabia carried out multiple airstrikes on the runway of Sanaa International Airport, which is controlled by the Houthis.

Reports indicated that at the time of the airstrikes, an Iranian passenger plane carrying a Houthi delegation was flying from Tehran, the capital of Iran, to Sanaa. The plane eventually landed at Hodeidah Airport in northwestern Yemen, which is controlled by the Houthis.

It was reported that the passenger plane had previously carried the Houthi delegation to Iran to attend the funeral of Iran's late Supreme Leader Khamenei. The Yemeni government had proposed that the Houthi delegation should return on a non-Iranian plane under government supervision. The Houthi side rejected this and warned Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government not to intercept the flight. (Reporters: Yin Zhao, Luo Chen; Video: Wang Zixi)