The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced on Tuesday that "Saudi airports are ready to receive relief flights amid the closure of Sanaa Airport by the Houthis." The coalition stated that "the Houthis have closed Sanaa Airport to aircraft from UN and international organizations since December 19."
On Monday, the coalition revealed that it had carried out precise airstrikes targeting legitimate military objectives at Sanaa Airport. It indicated that it had lifted protection from specific locations at Sanaa Airport, in accordance with international and humanitarian law. The coalition also confirmed that the strikes at Sanaa Airport were a response to the threat and the use of its facilities to launch cross-border attacks. The coalition had previously urged workers from international and humanitarian organizations and civilians to evacuate Sanaa Airport immediately. It confirmed on Monday that legal measures were being taken to deal with the threat operationally.
Colonel Turki Al-Maliki, the spokesperson for the Coalition to Support Legitimacy, told "Al Arabiya" on Monday that the Houthi militias deliberately targeted civilians and airports in Saudi Arabia. He added that the Houthi militias used civilian objects as cover for their military operations, noting that legal measures had been taken before military strikes were directed at Sanaa Airport. He affirmed that international law permits lifting the immunity from civilian sites. He explained that the coalition had given civilians a warning to leave Sanaa Airport despite knowing that they were not present. He continued: "We have been careful in our strikes to not affect the operational activities of Sanaa Airport," stating that the airstrikes targeted legitimate military objectives, highlighting that strict measures were taken to lift the immunity from the civilian objects exploited by the Houthis.
Additionally, he clarified that the coalition would send messages to civilians before targeting the sites exploited by the Houthis, emphasizing that the coalition has a stable policy and defensive strategy in Yemen. Earlier on Monday, sources from Al Arabiya reported that the Houthi militia had stopped flight permits for UN and relief aircraft to Sanaa Airport, confirming that the Houthis had refused a UN flight landing at Sanaa Airport that day.
**Cross-border Attacks**
The sources also indicated that the Houthis' military use of Sanaa Airport negatively affected UN flights. The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen had previously confirmed that Sanaa Airport had become a military base for the Revolutionary Guard experts and Hezbollah. It pointed out that the militia uses legally protected sites to carry out cross-border attacks, announcing that it would take legal action to lift the immunity if necessary to protect civilians.
The coalition mentioned targeting key centers for qualitative objectives at the Dailami base associated with Sanaa Airport. It stated: "We destroyed facilities for assembling and rigging drones at the Dailami base, as well as underground platforms for launching ballistic missiles linked to Sanaa Airport."
**Legitimate Targets**
Earlier, the coalition announced airstrikes against legitimate military targets in Sanaa, noting that the strikes were an immediate response to the threat and the launching of drones from Sanaa Airport, affirming that the operation complies with international humanitarian law and its customary rules. It is noteworthy that videos obtained by "Al Arabiya" this month from the coalition revealed training of the Houthi militias on UN aircraft, aiming to test a missile aerial system.
