‘No compromise on sovereignty’: Yemen Presidential Council puts military on high alert after Sana’a airport strike

ADEN: Yemen’s government on Monday (local time) placed its military on high alert following a major escalation at the Houthi-controlled Sana’a International Airport, where an airstrike disabled the runway to block an unauthorised flight arriving from Iran.

In a comprehensive official statement, Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, President of Yemen and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, accused the Houthi militias of deliberately undermining peace efforts and putting the country’s stability at risk.

The government revealed that despite intensive mediation efforts by regional allies to defuse the situation, the Houthis insisted on receiving the Iranian flight completely outside the legal and sovereign frameworks that govern international civil aviation.

Airstrikes hit Sanaa International Airport in Yemen, with the Houthis accusing Saudi Arabia of launching the attacks, breaking a four-year truce in the conflict between ‌the kingdom and the Iran-aligned group https://t.co/iISgKWyMhm pic.twitter.com/dmA0SILAnS

— Reuters (@Reuters) July 14, 2026

The council emphasised that the Yemeni government had acted responsibly by offering alternative solutions, including using the national carrier, Yemenia Airways, to operate legitimate flights to Sana’a and even transport Houthi personnel directly from Tehran. However, the Houthi militias rejected these initiatives to force an illegal arrangement.

“Despite the intensive efforts made by our brothers and friends, and despite mediation initiatives and good offices aimed at containing the situation, the Houthi militias insisted on receiving another Iranian flight outside the legal and sovereign frameworks governing civil aviation. This step reflects a deliberate disregard for state institutions and an explicit rejection of all efforts to prevent Yemen from sliding into further escalation,” the statement read.

“What makes this conduct even more serious is that the Yemeni government has consistently and responsibly affirmed its readiness to resume civilian flights through Yemenia Airways, the national carrier legally authorized to operate flights to and from Sana’a International Airport. It also expressed its willingness to facilitate the transportation of Houthi militia personnel from Tehran to Sana’a aboard an aircraft chartered by Yemenia Airways,” it added.

The government stated this proves the Houthis are trying to drag Yemen into a wider regional conflict in pursuit of projects backed by the Iranian regime, rather than serving the interests of Yemeni citizens.

“The support provided for these practices by the Iranian regime, and the continued use of means and companies subject to international sanctions to carry out these violations, do not alter the fact that direct responsibility for this escalation rests with the Houthi militias. They have deliberately chosen to reject peace, renounce initiatives, and continue violating Yemen’s sovereignty and the resolutions of international legitimacy,” the official statement read.

“The Yemeni state reaffirms that protecting its sovereignty, airspace, and its land, maritime, and air ports constitutes a national and constitutional duty that admits no compromise under any circumstances,” it added.

As a result of the runway incident and ongoing provocations, the council has directed the government, armed forces, and security services to maintain the highest levels of readiness and vigilance to defend the country. The leadership also called on the international community to move past simple statements of condemnation and transition toward active deterrence by strictly enforcing UN Security Council Resolutions 2140 and 2216.

“In a manner that safeguards the interests of citizens, ensures the continued operation of the airport, and, at the same time, respects the sovereignty of the Yemeni state and its obligations under international law and the relevant Security Council resolutions,” the statement read.

Additionally, the spokesperson for the Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, affirmed that the Saudi aggression on Sana’a International Airport will not go unanswered and unpunished.

In a statement reported by the Yemeni News Agency Saba, Brigadier General Saree stated that in an unjust and blatant act of aggression, the criminal Saudi enemy targeted Sana’a International Airport with a number of airstrikes, thereby ending the phase of de-escalation, and must bear the consequences of its aggression.

Reacting to the sudden spike in tensions, the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, issued a statement expressing deep concern over the growing risks to Yemeni airspace and airports. The UN envoy’s confirmed it has initiated direct contact with military representatives from all sides, urging them to immediately de-escalate the situation.

I am closely following developments related to Yemeni airspace and airports, and I am deeply concerned about the risk of wider escalation.

I am actively engaging with all actors and my Office has contacted military representatives from all sides. We are urging them to…

— @OSE_Yemen (@OSE_Yemen) July 13, 2026

The envoy strongly called on all parties to refrain from triggering a new cycle of violence and to engage in UN-led negotiations to preserve the relative calm that Yemen has maintained since 2022.

“I am closely following developments related to Yemeni airspace and airports, and I am deeply concerned about the risk of wider escalation. I am actively engaging with all actors and my Office has contacted military representatives from all sides. We are urging them to de-escalate and refrain from any actions that would risk a new cycle of violence in Yemen,” he wrote in a post on X.

“I call on the parties to engage in dialogue and negotiations under UN auspices to find a way forward that preserves the relative calm Yemen has experienced since 2022 and makes progress toward sustainably ending the conflict,” he added. (ANI)