On Wednesday, the Yemeni-based Ansar Allah, more commonly referred to as the Houthis, declared plans today to launch flights from Sana’a International Airport to Saudi Arabia.
These flights, set to commence next Saturday, mark an end to a nearly seven-year hiatus.
In a social media post on Twitter, Khaled Al-Shayef, the Director of Sana’a International Airport, expressed, “Thanks to the significant efforts exerted by Brigadier General Abdulwahab Al-Durra, the Transport Minister at the Houthi administration), transport of pilgrims via flights from Sana’a International Airport to Saudi Arabia will commence from the coming Saturday.”
This declaration follows shortly after the US Envoy to Yemen, Timothy Lenderking, acknowledged the earnest efforts of the Yemeni government and Presidency in the peace process. Lenderking further noted the continued actions to mitigate the humanitarian plight of the Yemeni population, inclusive of facilitating the transportation of Hajj pilgrims via flights through Sana’a International Airport.
The previous year witnessed the re-establishment of thrice-weekly flights from Houthi-controlled Sana’a Airport to Queen Alia Airport in Amman. This followed a cessation of over seven years in commercial flights to and from Sana’a Airport, enforced by a blockade initiated by the Saudi-led coalition.
As recently as last Thursday, the coalition doubled the volume of flights from Sana’a Airport to Jordan’s capital, Amman, increasing the number to six trips.
These advancements occur amidst persistent international and UN endeavors to actualize an all-inclusive political resolution in Yemen. This aims to catalyze the peace process and terminate the prolonged conflict between the government forces supported by the coalition, and Houthi militants alleged to be backed by Iran, which has been ongoing for almost nine years.
