A Mahan Air flight linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps landed safely at Al-Hudaydah Airport in Houthi-controlled Yemen, according to a single unverified report. The Houthis subsequently claimed that Saudi Arabia has declared war on them and that a response is imminent.
The Houthis' claim that Saudi Arabia has declared war, issued shortly after the landing of an Iranian Mahan Air plane at Al-Hudaydah Airport, marks the latest escalation in a rapidly unfolding series of events this afternoon. The claim, from a single Houthi source, could not be independently verified, and no official Saudi statement has been reported.
The sequence began at 14:54 Jerusalem, when Houthi political bureau member Hazam al-Asad announced that an Iranian plane had landed at Hodeidah, breaking the Saudi-led air blockade. Minutes later, al-Asad was identified as the source of the statement. Footage from the scene showed Houthi supporters chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans. Security analysts warned of an escalating confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi-Iranian axis. Shortly after, journalist Asaf Rozentzweig (N12) confirmed that the plane was carrying members of the Houthi political delegation. The Shiite axis celebrated the breach as a victory over Saudi Arabia. Separately, at 14:53 Jerusalem, the Houthis had claimed that a political delegation flown from Iran had landed safely in Yemen.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions following earlier statements by former US President Trump that the US uses Saudi airports for strikes against Iran, and subsequent IRGC threats to 'make the lives of Saudi Arabia miserable.' The Zioneer has reported on the broader conflict, including IRGC strikes on a US base in Qatar and ongoing exchanges between the US and Iran. The Saudi-led air blockade of Houthi-controlled areas has been a key point of contention, with the Houthis seeking to break it.
The Houthi claim that Saudi Arabia has declared war remains unverified and has not been corroborated by any official Saudi or international source. The status of the Saudi blockade and the nature of the promised Houthi response also remain unclear.
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