The Houthi spokesman said Saudi fighter jets attempted in the early morning hours to prevent an "Iranian civilian aircraft" from reaching Yemen, according to the group's statement. He warned the Houthis will not accept the continued Saudi-American blockade and will take "legitimate steps to end the siege."
The Houthi spokesman issued a statement on Friday evening, claiming that Saudi fighter jets attempted to prevent an Iranian civilian aircraft from landing in Yemen during the early morning hours. The spokesman framed the incident as part of a broader Saudi-American blockade and warned of "legitimate steps" to end the siege. This claim is the latest in a sequence of escalating Houthi rhetoric against Saudi Arabia throughout Friday.
The Houthis' claims have evolved rapidly over the course of Friday. At 09:15 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported that fighter jets were observed over Yemen and that Houthi air defenses had opened fire, with the aircraft remaining unidentified. By 15:04 Jerusalem, the Houthi spokesman had issued a series of escalating statements: first claiming that Houthi air defenses fired surface-to-air missiles at Saudi jets attempting to block an Iranian plane, then threatening to strike Saudi airports and infrastructure in retaliation, and alleging 25 Saudi airspace violations that day. The spokesman later cited an alleged airspace intrusion as reason for a new threat, and demanded the lifting of the Saudi-American siege on Sanaa airport. The current claim of a blocked Iranian civilian plane consolidates these earlier reports, but remains unverified by any independent source.
As The Zioneer reported on Fri 18:27 Jerusalem, the Houthi spokesman had already threatened Saudi Arabia over an alleged airspace intrusion earlier Friday evening, amid heightened regional tensions. On Mon Jun 8, the Houthis announced the renewal of a 'naval blockade,' declaring any Israeli vessel a target. The Zioneer has previously reported on fighter jets over Yemen and Houthi air defenses opening fire at 09:15 Jerusalem on Friday.
The Saudi government has not yet commented on the latest Houthi claim. There remains no independent verification of the alleged Iranian civilian aircraft, the Saudi interception attempt, or the broader narrative of a blockade being enforced by Saudi jets.
8 developments
- StrongLebanese Health Ministry: 4,301 killed, 12,199 wounded since March 2
- DevelopingHouthis announce renewed 'naval blockade', declare any Israeli vessel a target
- StrongSaudi fighter jets reportedly strike Houthi positions near Bab el-Mandeb
- StrongHouthis issue fresh threats; refueling aircraft operate over Gulf, Syria, Jordan
Source and signal
- Internal intake