Ansar Allah warned airlines against flying over the kingdom, excluding airspace above Mecca and Medina. RIA Novosti reported the movement’s military spokesman’s statement on October 5.
Yemen’s Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, which controls the country’s north, declared the airspace over Saudi Arabia a zone of military operations. The movement said the airspace above Mecca and Medina was excluded.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree urged international airlines using Saudi airspace to stop flying over the kingdom. He said the movement would not be responsible for consequences if the warning were ignored.
Saree made the statement on the group’s Al Masirah television channel. The announcement was reported by RIA Novosti from Doha on October 5. It reflects the Houthis’ position and does not itself confirm a change in the official status of Saudi airspace.