Yemen warns of Houthi use of Iranian weapons against civil aviation

Houthi militia Iranian weapons civil aviation threat Red Sea loitering munitions

The Yemeni government has issued a warning regarding the use of modified Iranian air defense weapons by Houthi militias. According to Colonel Majid Abdullah Al-Nuzaili, spokesperson for the Yemeni armed forces, these weapons have been converted into loitering munitions with the assistance of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps experts.

These missiles are reportedly launched from the Hodeidah Governorate toward international flight paths over the southern Red Sea. The munitions feature a thermal tracking system and can loiter in the air for up to 25 minutes. A significant concern raised by military officials is that the weapons attack any heat source without the ability to distinguish between military and civilian targets.

The escalation poses a direct threat to civil aviation, including passenger flights and aircraft operated by the United Nations and various humanitarian and relief organizations. Yemeni officials have called on international bodies, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), to take decisive action to address these threats to international airspace safety.

Entities

Al Hudaydah · Hodeidah Governorate · Houthi militia · Iranian Revolutionary Guard · Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps · Red Sea · Yemeni Armed Forces

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 15 SOURCES] The use of these weapons poses a threat to UN and humanitarian organization aircraft. almahriah.net · www.yemen-window.com · althawry.net · news50.sa · s.alwakeelnews.com · +9 more
[● 15 SOURCES] The missiles can loiter for up to 25 minutes and utilize a thermal tracking system. almahriah.net · www.yemen-window.com · althawry.net · news50.sa · s.alwakeelnews.com · +9 more
[● 15 SOURCES] Experts from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard are assisting in the conversion of these weapons. almahriah.net · www.yemen-window.com · news50.sa · s.alwakeelnews.com · arabic.cnn.com · +9 more
[● 15 SOURCES] The weapons attack any heat source without distinguishing between military and civilian targets. almahriah.net · www.yemen-window.com · althawry.net · news50.sa · s.alwakeelnews.com · +9 more
[● 15 SOURCES] The missiles are launched from Al Hudaydah Governorate toward international flight paths south of the Red Sea. almahriah.net · www.yemen-window.com · althawry.net · news50.sa · s.alwakeelnews.com · +9 more
[● 15 SOURCES] Houthi forces are using Iranian air defense weapons converted into loitering munitions. almahriah.net · www.yemen-window.com · althawry.net · news50.sa · s.alwakeelnews.com · +9 more