Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council has called for a resolute international response to what it described as Iran's blatant interventions in Yemeni affairs, following the arrival of an aircraft belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard at Sana'a Airport, which is under Houthi militia control. The council considers this a violation of Yemeni sovereignty and a breach of international law and UN Security Council resolutions.
During a meeting with ambassadors of countries sponsoring the political process in Yemen, Rashad al-Alimi, Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, urged strict enforcement of Security Council resolutions and sanctions, including prohibiting the use of airports, ports, and civil aviation for transporting military experts or equipment. He also called for intensified monitoring of financing and smuggling networks linked to the Houthi militias.
Al-Alimi further requested an international investigation into the Iranian flight, noting that the aircraft reportedly disabled its tracking system while traversing Yemeni airspace. He deemed this an indication necessitating an independent inquiry to ascertain the nature and cargo of the flight. He emphasized that tightening sanctions on the Houthis represents a peaceful option to implement international legitimacy resolutions, particularly Resolution 2216, while simultaneously calling for increased political and economic support for the Yemeni government as a partner in restoring state institutions, protecting waterways, and combating terrorism and organized crime.
Initial information suggests the flight carried military and security personnel and Iranian experts specializing in drone development and missile systems, alongside electronic equipment and technology, and Yemeni individuals who had received training in Iran. Al-Alimi stated this contradicts the Houthi narrative of the flight having a humanitarian nature. He asserted that the Yemeni issue is no longer an internal affair but a direct challenge to the international order, maritime security, and the global economy, warning that the continued absence of international deterrence will embolden armed groups to defy Security Council resolutions and breach the sanctions regime.
Al-Alimi reiterated accusations against the Iranian regime for providing political, military, and logistical support to the Houthis, prolonging the war through the transfer of military expertise and technology, and sustaining the war economy. He affirmed that Yemen does not oppose the Iranian people but rejects Tehran's policies of supporting militias and interfering in the affairs of other nations. He also held the Houthi militia directly responsible for exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, accusing them of diverting resources towards armament and recruitment instead of paying employee salaries and improving services, in addition to targeting humanitarian work and undermining peace efforts.
The Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council reaffirmed the council and government's commitment to a peaceful resolution based on national, regional, and international frameworks. He stressed that achieving peace requires ending the coup, respecting state institutions, and implementing international legitimacy resolutions, warning that the ongoing lack of international deterrence will provide the Houthis with further opportunities to escalate their threats domestically and regionally.
