The Yemeni Armed Forces announced on Monday that they had launched a retaliatory military operation targeting Abha International Airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia after Saudi warplanes carried out airstrikes on Sanaa International Airport, an attack the Armed Forces described as a deliberate attempt to tighten the blockade on the Yemeni people.

In an official statement, the Yemeni Armed Forces said Saudi fighter jets struck Sanaa International Airport at 1:54 p.m. local time, targeting the civilian facility with multiple airstrikes aimed at disrupting humanitarian flights transporting patients and stranded civilians.

The statement said Yemeni air defenses engaged the attacking aircraft in an effort to repel what it described as a "treacherous and cowardly aggression" against vital civilian infrastructure.

In response, the Armed Forces announced that they launched a military operation against Abha International Airport using ballistic missiles and drones, stating that the operation successfully achieved all of its intended objectives.

The Yemeni Armed Forces held Saudi Arabia fully responsible for the consequences of what they described as an unjustified escalation, accusing Riyadh of serving the interests of the "Zionist-American enemy" through its continued military campaign and blockade against Yemen.

Reaffirming their commitment to defending the country, the Armed Forces stressed that they would continue military operations until what they described as the Saudi-led aggression ends and the blockade imposed on Yemen is lifted.

The statement also issued a warning to international airlines, urging them to avoid Saudi airspace and to take the warning seriously until restrictions on Sanaa International Airport are removed.

The Yemeni Armed Forces expressed gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran for supporting efforts to reopen Sanaa International Airport and for facilitating humanitarian flights, describing Tehran's assistance as an important contribution to alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people.

The statement also praised the widespread public demonstrations held across Sanaa and other governorates, saying the large-scale rallies reflected the Yemeni people's rejection of the ongoing aggression and blockade.

According to the Armed Forces, Yemen's military remains fully prepared to take all necessary measures to deter further attacks and secure the reopening of Sanaa International Airport, while emphasizing that the country's resilience and popular support remain central to its efforts to end the years-long blockade. (ILKHA)