Conflicts in the Middle East deepened as fighter jets scramble over Saudi- Bharain Air corridor following the latest attack by the Saudi Arabia at the Houthi controlled Yemen international airport. Yemen in retaliation launched missile and drone strikes at the Abha International airport in the kingdom’s southwest. The group stated that the operation was conducted in retaliation for what it termed Saudi aggression.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a military operation targeting Abha International Airport, using a number of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles,” Yahya Saree, spokesman of Houthi military, said in a video statement.
In view of the warning issued by Houthi spokesperson, multiple flights were cancelled on Monday evening and some were cancelled on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia’s national carrier Saudia Airlines cancelled flights from Abha to Riyadh and Jeddah, while budget carrier flynas’ flights to Jeddah were also cancelled on Tuesday morning. Some of the flights scheduled to arrive in Abha from the kingdom’s other cities on Tuesday morning were also cancelled. Yemen has closed its airspace for Saudi flights following the attack. UAE’s flydubai also joined Saudia and flynas in cancelling flights to and from Abha airport.
The current friction triggered after an Iranian aircraft tried landing at Sanaa Airport, Yemen. Saudi forces reportedly targeted the Sanaa airport, forcing the plane to divert and land in Al Hudaydah on Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The Riyadh-backed Yemeni government stated that the strike was designed to prevent an Iranian aircraft from utilising Yemeni territory.
According to reports, US President Donald Trump supported Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s request for assistance before Riyadh initiated military operations against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen. The report mentioned that the crown prince sought Washington’s endorsement for the attack intensifying concerns in Riyadh regarding Houthi operations
Saudi Arabia in 2015 had established a military coalition in Yemen to support the internationally recognized government against the Houthis. At present, the Houthi backed by Iran control the capital city along with much of the northern Yemen while the south region of the country comes under the official government.