Houthis could attack civilian aviation - details
Yemeni military officials have warned that Houthi rebels, with the help of Iranian specialists, have converted air defense systems into "drifting" missiles launched from the Hodeidah province into international air corridors. The missile can patrol an area for up to 25 minutes and attack a heat target without distinguishing between military and civilian aircraft. The Yemeni army called this an act of international aviation terrorism and urged ICAO and IATA to enhance protection.
The armed forces of the internationally recognized government of Yemen have warned of a new threat to civilian aviation from the Houthis. According to Al-Arabiya, the group, with Iranian specialists, has modernized air defense systems into unguided "drifting" missiles. These are launched from Hodeidah province and enter international air corridors. Colonel Majid Abdullah al-Nazili, an official representative of the Yemeni army, stated that specialists from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Yemen helped convert the systems. The main danger is the lack of selectivity in target choice: the missile can remain airborne for up to 25 minutes, patrolling a designated area, and upon detecting a heat signature, it heads toward it without distinguishing between a military helicopter, a passenger plane, or a UN aircraft. The military command released videos of launches from Hodeidah toward international routes. Al-Nazili emphasized that the escalation goes beyond the Yemeni conflict and constitutes a direct act of international aviation terrorism. The Yemeni army called on ICAO and IATA to urgently enhance protection of air corridors. The Houthis and Iran have not yet commented on the allegations.