hairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Dr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, has condemned the operation of an aircraft belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to Sana'a International Airport, which is under the control of the Houthi terrorist militia, describing it as a blatant violation of Yemen's sovereignty and a direct challenge to the authority of the international order and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
During a meeting with ambassadors of the countries sponsoring the political process in Yemen, President Al-Alimi called on the international community to adopt a firmer stance against Iran's continued interference in Yemen. He urged the strict enforcement of UN Security Council resolutions and sanctions, including preventing the use of civilian aviation, airports, and seaports for transporting military experts or dual-use equipment, while strengthening oversight of financing and smuggling networks linked to the Houthi militia.
The President also called for an independent international investigation into the IRGC flight, including its cargo and the repeated disruptions to the aircraft's tracking system while flying over Yemeni airspace. He noted that preliminary information indicates the flight transported Iranian military and security personnel, specialists in drone and missile technologies, as well as electronic and communications equipment with potential military applications.
President Al-Alimi stressed that the Yemeni issue is no longer merely an internal conflict but has become a direct challenge to the international order and the global economy. He warned that failing to respond decisively to such violations would encourage further breaches and undermine the credibility of the UN Security Council.
He renewed his call for tougher sanctions on the Houthi militia as a peaceful means of enforcing international legitimacy, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 2216, while emphasizing the need to expand political and economic support for the Yemeni government to restore state institutions, advance peace, protect international maritime routes, and combat terrorism.
The President affirmed that the Republic of Yemen harbors no hostility toward the Iranian people but rejects the Iranian regime's policy of supporting armed militias and interfering in the internal affairs of sovereign states. He said Tehran has, for years, provided political, military, and media support to the Houthis, contributing to the prolongation of the conflict and the worsening of Yemen's humanitarian crisis.
In contrast, President Al-Alimi praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its sustained support to Yemen's state institutions and its political, economic, humanitarian, and development initiatives. He noted that while Iran invests in militias and prolonged conflict, Saudi Arabia invests in strengthening state institutions, promoting development, and creating the conditions necessary for lasting peace.
The President held the Houthi militia directly responsible for Yemen's humanitarian crisis, stating that the armed coup against the state, the dismantling of national institutions, the militarization of society, and the targeting of the national economy remain the root causes of the country's suffering. He added that the Houthis continue to divert substantial resources toward weapons procurement, military recruitment, and war efforts instead of paying public sector salaries or improving basic services.
President Al-Alimi concluded by reaffirming the Presidential Leadership Council's commitment to achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on the agreed national, regional, and international references. He warned that the absence of effective international deterrence would only embolden the Houthi militia to further threaten regional and international security.
