The spokesman of the coalition forces Brigadier General Ahmed bin Hassan Asiri explained that the Iranian plane that violated the procedures of the air embargo in Yemen is the third Iranian plane. Previously, Two Iranian planes did the same, he said adding that after warning them, the two planes heeded the warnings and returned. He noted that this plane was given permission to land through the procedures taken by the cell that facilitates the procedures for heading to Yemeni territories. In an interview with the Saudi Channel News 'Al-ekhbariya', Brigadier Asiri said that the permission was given for the plane to be at Sana'a airport during the time from 0900 to 1300 Tuesday afternoon. Unfortunately, the plane did not come on time. At three o'clock in the afternoon (1500), it communicated with air traffic control towers and asked to go to Sana'a airport in disagreement with the time set for it. The command of the coalition understood the delay of the plane which was asked to go to Bisha airport. The procedures in these cases are to inspect the aircraft in Baisha airport to make sure that it does not carry any banned materials that can be provided to the Houthi militias and then, it can go to Sana'a airport. Unfortunately, the pilot did not comply with this procedure and insisted on heading to the Yemeni territories to Sana'a airport. Air Traffic Control Towers in Sana'a Airport, Muscat airport and Jeddah Airport contacted the pilot to inform him that this is unacceptable, but he continued heading to Sana'a airport. Then fighter jets took off to intercept the Iranian plane. Communication with the pilot through emergency contact took place but unfortunately, the pilot did not respond to calls of fighter jets. The spokesman stated that in this case, the fighter jets had to destroy the runway at Sana'a airport, so that the plane cannot violate the ban and impose its will on the command of the coalition. Brigadier Asiri stressed that the pilot was informed by Sana'a airport that the airport was now damaged and that he cannot land. Then, he went back through the same route across the Omani airspace and left without abiding by the permission given to him. Regarding the measures that should be taken against the aircraft in case of recurrence of such violations, the coalition spokesman said, 'The Yemeni government is the one that requested taking this action by declaring an air embargo that is implemented by the command of the coalition and asked everybody to abide by the permits' procedures provided by both the legitimate Yemeni government or the command of the coalition,' noting that today a permission was given was given to a private plane related belonging to Doctors Without Borders Organization and the International Organization for Migration to go to Sanaa airport and there were no procedures violating or disrupting the process. He said that what was done by the plane indicates that there is something that it does not want inspectors at Baisha airport to see and this is irresponsible behavior by the pilot because that caused damage to the runway at the airport and thus will disrupt the relief work until the repair of the runway and this is if it is repaired by the Huthi militias and their supporters because they are the ones who control the airport and this is not in the interest of the Yemeni people and does not help the relief operations. If this aircraft claims it was carrying relief materials, it caused more damage than it was carrying of relief materials to the Yemeni people with this irresponsible behavior. Asiri stressed that the command of the coalition will implement procedures strictly and will not allow anyone to violate these procedures. The command of the coalition will continue issuing all permits' procedures as promptly as possible, pointing out that permits are issued at once when they meet the procedures, and noting that there was a meeting being held now among all relief agencies, the government of Yemen and the committee which was formed by order of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to facilitate these procedures and the coordination of efforts and facilitate all the obstacles. Asiri confirmed that the coalition command is aware of its responsibilities in this regard and facilitate the arrival of relief materials to Yemeni airports and sea ports and will not allow this kind of provocations and violations and will apply its procedures firmly.
