Houthis warn airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, call it unsafe
In short
The Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Operations, controlled by Yemen's Houthi movement Ansar Allah, called on airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, saying it is unsafe and “will become a theatre of military operations”. The warning followed Houthi spokesman Yahya Sari's 4 October statement that ballistic missiles and drones hit Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and the Khurais area, and Yemen's internationally recognised authorities' announcement of an operation to take control of Sanaa. According to Vedomosti, the statement also said Houthi units disclaim responsibility for the consequences.
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The Coordination Centre for Humanitarian Operations, controlled by Yemen's Houthi movement Ansar Allah, called on airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, saying it is unsafe, TASS, Kommersant, Vedomosti and RIA Novosti reported. Vedomosti said the statement was carried by the SABA agency, while Kommersant cited Alquds. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to the statement quoted by Kommersant and Vedomosti, Saudi airspace “will become a theatre of military operations”. The text cited by Vedomosti said the warning was issued “as a result of Saudi aggression against our country using aviation” and out of a desire to ensure the safety of civil aviation and preserve people's lives. Vedomosti also reported that the statement said Houthi units “disclaim responsibility” for the consequences. [ 2 , 3 ]
The warning followed Houthi statements about strikes in both directions. On 4 October, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sari said the group struck Saudi Aramco energy facilities in Riyadh and in the Khurais area in eastern Saudi Arabia with ballistic missiles and drones, which the Houthis described as a response to Saudi strikes on areas of Yemen they control, Kommersant and Vedomosti reported. Kommersant reported the Houthis said Saudi Arabia had carried out 106 strikes on parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. [ 2 , 3 ]
On 5 October, Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, said the internationally recognised authorities had begun a military operation called “Yemen's Dawn” aimed at taking control of Sanaa, which is held by the Houthis, Vedomosti reported. Kommersant reported that Saudi Arabia backs the country's troops and has taken part directly in the conflict with the Houthis since 2015, leading an international coalition that includes the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait. [ 2 , 3 ]
Kommersant reported that for civil aviation the risk involves not only flying over the conflict zone but also the availability of airports. In July 2026, after a strike on the runway at Sanaa airport, a Mahan Air aircraft was unable to land and was directed to Hodeidah, the newspaper said. It added that air links in the region had already depended on political conditions: a ceasefire in force since 1 April 2022 allowed no more than two civilian flights a week from Sanaa to Jordan and Egypt under international control and banned flights to Iran. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The warning concerns Saudi airspace used by international carriers, so it is a signal to airlines weighing routes over the region. It lands amid an exchange of strikes between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia and a new push by Yemen's internationally recognised government towards Sanaa, which raises the risk of disruption near the conflict. Kommersant noted that earlier strikes had already forced a flight bound for Sanaa to divert.
Key facts
- A coordination centre controlled by the Houthi movement Ansar Allah called on airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, saying it is unsafe. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The statement said Saudi airspace “will become a theatre of military operations”. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The Houthis cited “Saudi aggression” against Yemen using aviation as the reason for the warning. [ 2 , 3 ]
- On 4 October, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sari said ballistic missiles and drones struck Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and the Khurais area in eastern Saudi Arabia. [ 2 , 3 ]
- On 5 October, Rashad al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, said the internationally recognised authorities began a military operation called “Yemen's Dawn” to take control of Sanaa. [ 3 ]
- Kommersant reported the Houthis said Saudi Arabia carried out 106 strikes on parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. [ 2 ]
- Kommersant reported Saudi Arabia backs Yemen's troops and has taken part directly in the conflict with the Houthis since 2015, leading an international coalition that includes the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A centre controlled by the Houthi movement Ansar Allah urged airlines to avoid Saudi airspace, calling it unsafe. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The statement said Saudi airspace would become a “theatre of military operations”. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The Houthis said the warning was issued because of “Saudi aggression” against Yemen using aviation and to protect civil aviation. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sari said on 4 October that ballistic missiles and drones struck Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and the Khurais area. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether any airline has changed routing, and how carriers or Saudi authorities have responded to the warning. The documents do not say whether any airline, regulator or Saudi authority has reacted.
- The statement's assertion that Houthi units “disclaim responsibility” for the consequences of flights over Saudi airspace. Reported only by Vedomosti; the other documents do not mention it.
- Rashad al-Alimi's 5 October announcement of the “Yemen's Dawn” operation aimed at taking Sanaa. Reported only by Vedomosti in these documents.
- The Houthi account that Saudi Arabia carried out 106 strikes on Yemen, including Sanaa, and the described history of the Saudi-led coalition since 2015. Both are reported only by Kommersant in these documents and are not corroborated by another outlet.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports the Houthi-run coordination centre's call for airlines to avoid Saudi airspace. [ 1 ]
- Kommersant reports the warning, citing Alquds, and adds background on strikes and the conflict. [ 2 ]
- Vedomosti reports the warning, citing SABA, and notes the 4 October Aramco strike claim and the 5 October “Yemen's Dawn” operation. [ 3 ]
- RIA Novosti reports that flights over Saudi Arabia are unsafe. [ 4 ]