Yemeni troops bombed the runway at Sanaa International Airport to block an Iranian aircraft from touching down, the anti-Houthi Defense Ministry confirmed on Monday.

Initial reports from anti-Houthi outlets attributed the attack to Saudi warplanes operating in support of the Presidential Leadership Council.

Riyadh remains the chief backer of the PLC and has carried out repeated strikes against Houthi positions around the capital throughout the ongoing conflict.

In a simultaneous statement the ministry warned that its patience had ended and that any additional violations of Yemeni airspace by Iranian or Houthi aircraft would be met with force.

A ministry spokesperson stressed that the armed forces belong to the Yemeni people as a whole and have sought through diplomatic channels to halt unauthorized Iranian flights into Sanaa.

Local residents reported multiple explosions near the airport while military jets circled overhead.

Houthis Detain Red Cross Plane and Crew

Information Minister Moamar Al-Eryani announced that Houthi fighters had seized an International Committee of the Red Cross aircraft at Sanaa airport and were holding the pilot and co-pilot.

He described the seizure as a serious escalation and a clear breach of international humanitarian law.

Warning Issued Over Tehran-Sanaa Flights

Earlier in the week the minister cautioned Iran and the Houthis against using direct flights from Tehran to mask the movement of military personnel.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree pledged a decisive reply to the runway attack, declaring that the strike ended the period of reduced tensions with Riyadh.

Sanaa remains under Houthi control while the recognized government operates from Aden with support from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.

Iranian state media later confirmed the diverted aircraft had landed safely at Hodeidah International Airport.

This remains a developing situation.