Exclusive: Iranian Aircraft May Divert to Hodeidah or a Houthi-Controlled Military Airstrip as Yemen’s Airspace Standoff Deepens
Sheba Intelligence has obtained information indicating that the Iranian aircraft expected to fly to Yemen may divert to Hodeidah Airport or a Houthi-controlled military airstrip if it is unable to land at Sana’a International Airport.
According to the information obtained by Sheba Intelligence, contingency planning has been discussed to preserve the flight’s arrival should access to Sana’a become impossible. The information also suggests that temporary radar or flight-tracking interruptions could occur during the final phase of the operation, although this has not been independently verified.
The development comes as Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chairman, Rashad Al-Alimi, issued a new statement describing any Iranian flight operating outside the internationally recognized legal framework as a direct violation of Yemen’s sovereignty.
Al-Alimi said the internationally recognized government had previously offered to facilitate flights through Yemenia Airways while maintaining civilian operations under legal procedures, but accused the Houthis of rejecting those arrangements in favor of direct Iranian-operated access.
The Presidential Leadership Council also instructed the armed forces and security agencies to raise their operational readiness and take all legitimate measures necessary to protect Yemen’s airspace, airports, and sovereign points of entry, while holding both the Houthis and Iran responsible for any escalation.
If the aircraft is diverted to Hodeidah or a military airstrip under Houthi control, it would mark a significant expansion of the current airspace confrontation, indicating that the dispute is no longer limited to Sana’a Airport but has evolved into a broader contest over control of Yemen’s aviation infrastructure.
While the aircraft’s final destination remains unconfirmed, the emerging contingency scenarios point to increasing efforts by the Houthis and Iran to preserve an aerial corridor into northern Yemen despite mounting political and military pressure.