Houthi forces fired air defense missiles at a Saudi warplane that entered Yemeni airspace near Sanaa International Airport, the group claimed in a Friday statement by spokesperson Yahya Sarea.
According to the statement, the Saudi aircraft was attempting to prevent an Iranian civilian plane carrying more than 200 wounded, sick, and stranded Yemenis from landing.
Further, it claimed the warplane was forced to leave the area.
Sarea warned Saudi Arabia against further incursions and threatened to target Saudi airports and other vital interests.
He also demanded an end to what they described as a Saudi American blockade of Yemen.
The statement praised Iran for arranging the flight and said air travel between Sanaa and Tehran would continue.
The Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen has been conducting tests aimed at improving the range and accuracy of its missiles, The Jerusalem Post learned Monday from two people familiar with the matter.
Earlier in June, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi said the Iranian proxy would resume attacks on Israel in the event of the Israel-Hamas War flaring back up.
“We are in continuous coordination with our brothers across the resistance fronts, and we will not hesitate to fulfill our duty in response to any new escalation of aggression against any front, especially Gaza,” he said.
Defense Minister Israel Katz warned the Houthis against any attack.
“Israel’s account with the Houthis remains open,” he said.
“They will pay a price. If their leader is found in our sights, we will eliminate him.”
