A Houthi delegation has departed Sanaa for Tehran to attend the funeral of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, underscoring the group's close ties to Iran, according to multiple sources.
The delegation reportedly traveled via a third country. Sources indicate that Mohammed Abdul-Salam, the Houthi chief negotiator based in Oman, faced delays in reaching the funeral ceremonies. However, Houthi officials residing in Tehran, including Ahmed Al-Imam, the group's cultural and media liaison in Iran, were present to offer condolences.
The departure coincided with the arrival of a Mahan Air flight from Tehran at Sanaa International Airport. The aircraft, an Airbus A340-300 registered as EP-MJF, remained on the ground for over three hours before returning to the Iranian capital. Flight tracking data showed intermittent signal disruptions during the plane's transit in Yemeni airspace, raising questions about its purpose and passengers.
While unofficial reports suggest the flight was arranged to transport the Houthi delegation, neither the Houthi movement nor Iranian authorities have issued official statements regarding the flight's nature or its passenger manifest. Observers note the continued use of Sanaa Airport, which is intended for humanitarian and exceptional flights, to facilitate the political activities of Houthi leadership.
The use of Mahan Air, an airline under U.S. sanctions since 2011 for alleged links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, has also drawn attention. Analysts view the official Houthi participation in Khamenei's funeral as a significant political signal reinforcing the deep connection between the Houthi movement and the Iranian regime, despite the group's consistent denials of being a Tehran proxy.
This development occurs amidst the ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis in Yemen, prompting criticism from activists who question the diversion of leadership attention to external political events when domestic crises remain unaddressed.
