Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Holds Emergency Meeting Over Alleged Iranian Violation of National Sovereignty

The Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) held an extraordinary emergency meeting chaired by President Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Council, with the attendance of all Council members: Sultan Al-Aradah, Tareq Saleh, Abdulrahman Al-Mahrami, Dr. Abdullah Al-Alimi, Othman Mujalli, Mahmoud Al-Subaihi, and Salem Al-Khanbashi.

The meeting focused on what the Council described as the serious consequences of the Iranian regime's operation of a direct flight to Sanaa International Airport, which is under the control of the Houthi terrorist militia. The Council said the move constitutes a blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen, as well as a clear breach of international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

The Council received briefings from Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Shaya Al-Zindani, along with several ministers and heads of relevant agencies, regarding the latest developments. According to the briefings, the direct flight demonstrates the Houthis' complete alignment with Iran's regional agenda and their prioritization of Iranian interests over those of the Yemeni people, while exploiting state institutions and sovereign facilities to advance Tehran's objectives at the expense of Yemen's sovereignty, security, and stability.

The Council stated that the incident reflects the Houthis' continued efforts to undermine every opportunity for peace and their rejection of regional and international initiatives aimed at ending the conflict, particularly the extensive peace efforts led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and international partners to achieve a lasting settlement and end the suffering of the Yemeni people.

Instead of responding positively to those initiatives, the Council said, the Houthis have continued military escalation, targeted international shipping lanes and maritime trade, and triggered international sanctions and isolation. It added that these actions have deepened Yemen's economic and humanitarian crisis while causing significant damage to national infrastructure, including ports, airports, and vital economic and public service facilities. The Council held the Houthis fully responsible for what it described as the effective blockade facing Yemenis, as well as the deterioration of living conditions and the worsening humanitarian situation.

The Presidential Leadership Council further stated that the latest development poses not only a threat to Yemen but also to regional and international security. It said the move undermines international efforts to reduce tensions and demonstrates, in its view, Iran's continued violation of international law through the use of armed proxy groups to destabilize the region. The Council added that any future understandings with Iran would not be sustainable unless accompanied by effective mechanisms for deterrence and accountability.

The Council stressed that the Yemeni state will exercise its full constitutional and legal responsibilities to protect its sovereignty and its exclusive authority over the management of its airspace and border crossings. It affirmed that it would take all political, diplomatic, legal, and security measures permitted under international law to safeguard the sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen and protect its legitimate state institutions.

The Council also praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its leadership and government's continued efforts to end the conflict and promote security and stability in Yemen and the wider region. It likewise expressed appreciation for the support provided by Yemen's regional and international partners to the country's legitimate institutions, while asserting that these efforts continue to face obstruction due to the Houthis' intransigence and close alignment with Iran.

The Council warned Iran against continuing what it described as its escalatory approach, holding both the Iranian regime and the Houthi militia fully responsible for the consequences of these actions and for any threats to Yemen's security, regional stability, and international peace and security.

Finally, the Presidential Leadership Council called on the United Nations, the UN Security Council, and all regional and international partners to fulfill their legal and moral responsibilities by moving beyond condemnation toward concrete deterrent measures to halt what it described as Iranian violations. It also urged stronger oversight of channels used to support, arm, and finance the Houthi militia and called for preventing the use of Yemeni territory and airspace for activities serving destabilizing cross-border agendas.

The meeting was attended by Presidential Office Director Dr. Yahya Al-Shaibi; Minister of Information Muammar Al-Eryani; Minister of Interior Major General Ibrahim Haidan; Minister of Defense Lieutenant General Taher Al-Aqili; Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Sagheer bin Aziz; Head of the State Security Service Major General Mohammed Aydha; and Major General Ahmed Al-Aqili, Director of the Office of the Supreme Commander.