National Defense Council Holds Houthis and Iranian Regime Responsible for Escalation, Approves Sovereignty Measures

  Riyadh

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), chaired by President Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, President of the Council and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, held a joint meeting today, Monday, with the National Defense Council. The meeting was held to review the implications of repeated Iranian violations of Yemen’s sovereignty and the Houthi terrorist militia’s insistence on receiving new flights at Sanaa International Airport outside the country’s recognized legal and sovereign framework.

The meeting was attended by all PLC members: Sultan Al-Arada, Tareq Saleh, Abdulrahman Al-Mahrami, Dr. Abdullah Al-Alimi, Othman Mujalli, Mahmoud Al-Subaihi, and Salem Al-Khanbashi. Also present were Speaker of Parliament Sheikh Sultan Al-Barakani, Prime Minister Dr. Shaya Al-Zindani, Chairman of the Shura Council Dr. Ahmed Obeid bin Dagher, Chairman of the Consultation and Reconciliation Commission Mohammed Al-Ghaithi, ministers, and senior officials who are members of the National Defense Council.

The meeting reviewed military, security, political, diplomatic and legal reports on the latest escalation and the measures taken by the state to deter the threat. It also examined government initiatives to resume legal and safe operations at Sanaa International Airport through Yemenia Airways in a manner that safeguards citizens’ interests, preserves national sovereignty, and complies with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The meeting commended the Armed Forces for their high level of readiness, discipline and professionalism in carrying out defensive measures that thwarted an attempt to impose a fait accompli by force. It said those measures helped preserve lives and property while reaffirming the state’s ability to protect its sovereignty in accordance with international law.

It stressed the importance of maintaining the highest level of readiness and vigilance. It also called for continuing all military, political, diplomatic and other lawful measures guaranteed under the Constitution and international law to protect Yemen’s sovereignty, prevent further violations, and safeguard the security of its citizens.

The meeting also commended the government’s decision to remain in permanent session and establish a crisis management team. It praised the coordination of military, political, diplomatic, legal and media efforts, as well as measures to strengthen the preparedness of state institutions and ensure a rapid response to any future developments.

The meeting affirmed that the state had dealt with the escalation with the highest degree of responsibility, based on military, security and political assessments. It said the state’s approach sought to strike a balance between its constitutional duty to protect national sovereignty and avoiding a broader confrontation that the Houthi terrorist militia and its backers in Tehran were seeking to provoke.

The meeting said the recent violations constituted a clear breach of international law and an infringement of the Republic of Yemen’s exclusive sovereign authority over its airspace and airports. Contrary to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, which requires the approval of the competent authorities of a state before international flights may operate into its territory.

The meeting said these actions also contravene UN Security Council Resolutions 2140 and 2216, which affirm the unity and sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen and call on all parties to refrain from taking any measures that undermine state institutions or enable the Houthi militia to exercise sovereign functions. It added that these violations may also constitute a breach of the UN sanctions regime, including the arms embargo and the prohibition on the transfer of weapons and military experts to the Houthi militia. The meeting said such violations require a firm international response to ensure compliance with the relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

The meeting held the Houthi terrorist militia responsible for the escalation and its consequences, citing its rejection of all peace initiatives sponsored by regional and international partners, particularly the internationally backed Roadmap, and its continued actions undermining Yemen’s sovereignty and prospects for peace. It also held the Iranian regime responsible for continuing to support practices that violate international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.

The meeting stressed that true responsibility toward citizens begins with ending these reckless policies, lifting the restrictions imposed by the militia on the Yemeni people, and ceasing to obstruct the operation of Sanaa International Airport through Yemenia Airways, the legally authorized national carrier. This would allow citizens to travel safely and regularly, without exploiting their suffering to achieve political or military gains.

The meeting reaffirmed that no foreign aircraft would be permitted to enter, land at, or operate flights to any airport in the Republic of Yemen without the approval of the government and the competent authorities, describing this as an exclusive sovereign prerogative of the state.

The meeting called for civilian flights to operate through Yemenia Airways under the approved arrangements, including guaranteeing the safety of its crews, releasing its detained assets and funds. It called for enabling the airline to carry out its national responsibilities without discrimination, and preventing its flights from being used for non-civilian purposes.

The meeting warned the Houthi terrorist militia of the consequences of continuing its policy of escalation and endangering the security of citizens and the stability of the country. It affirmed that the state would respond with full resolve to any new violation and would take all legitimate measures and steps guaranteed under the Constitution and international law to protect its sovereignty, airspace and entry points. It would prevent any breach of its sovereignty, whether through Sanaa Airport, any other airport, or any other crossing within the territory of the Republic.

The meeting stressed that the Armed Forces and security services would continue carrying out their national duties with high efficiency and readiness. It affirmed that they would deal firmly with anyone seeking to undermine the state’s sovereignty or impose fait accompli by force. It also emphasized that all measures would be carried out with the utmost care to protect civilians and safeguard their lives and property, while preventing the militia from exploiting them or dragging them into ventures that serve external agendas at the expense of Yemeni people’s interests.

It approved a number of decisions and measures aimed at strengthening the readiness of state institutions, enhancing coordination among the competent authorities, and continuing all legitimate political, diplomatic, legal and military measures to protect the sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen and its land, sea and air entry points and prevent similar violations in the future.

The meeting requested the leadership of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen to continue providing support and assistance to the Yemeni Armed Forces, enabling them to carry out their constitutional duties in protecting the country’s sovereignty, citizens, and the security of its airspace and entry points. This is to be done in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, in a manner that contributes to enhancing security and stability in Yemen and the region.

The meeting also condemned the Houthi militia’s attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its repeated targeting of civilians and vital facilities. The meeting described them as a violation of international law and a direct threat to regional security and stability.

The meeting praised the efficiency and readiness of the Saudi Armed Forces and air defense systems, as well as their demonstrated high capability in intercepting ballistic missiles and countering these attacks. It affirmed that this escalation once again reveals the Houthi militia’s evasion of its responsibilities toward citizens in areas under its forceful control, its continued resort to destructive wars, and its practice of exporting its internal crises to neighboring countries. At the same time, the meeting noted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has continued to provide fraternal support to Yemeni state institutions and contribute to alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people through humanitarian, development and economic assistance. It also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s continued sponsorship of initiatives aimed at achieving peace and ending the war.

The meeting renewed its call on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to move beyond condemnation toward effective deterrence. It called for the enforcement of international legitimacy resolutions and the strict implementation of the sanctions regime and arms embargo on the Houthi militia. The meeting said these measures are necessary to safeguard Yemen’s sovereignty and prevent further violations that threaten regional and international peace and security.

It reaffirmed Yemen’s commitment to achieving a just and lasting peace while stressing that this commitment would not come at the expense of the country’s sovereignty or constitutional institutions. It also affirmed that state institutions and the Armed Forces would continue to carry out their national responsibilities in defense of Yemen, its people, sovereignty and independence in accordance with the Constitution, international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Yahya Al-Shuaibi, Director of the Office of the Presidency of the Republic, and Major General Ahmed Al-Oqaili, Director of the Office of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.