Iran flights expose battle for sovereignty in divided Yemen
ADEN – A dispute over an Iranian passenger flight to Sanaa has become the latest flashpoint in Yemen’s long-running civil war, exposing the deeper battle over sovereignty, regional influence and control of state institutions in the divided country.
Yemen’s internationally-recognised government said on Sunday it forced an Iranian Mahan Air aircraft to abandon its journey to Houthi-controlled Sanaa after determining that it had entered Yemeni airspace without obtaining the necessary official approvals.
Transport Minister Mohsen al-Amri said all international flights to Yemen must receive authorisation from the internationally recognised government, insisting that no aircraft would be permitted to bypass official procedures.
Although framed as a regulatory decision, the move reflects a much broader confrontation over who has the authority to represent Yemen internationally and manage strategic infrastructure in territories held by the Iran-backed Houthis.
For the government, the return of direct Iranian flights to Sanaa represents an attempt by Tehran to deepen its political and logistical ties with the Houthis at a time of heightened regional instability.
Officials argue that the issue extends beyond civil aviation, viewing the flights as part of a broader effort to consolidate Iranian influence in Yemen through direct air links.
Vice-President Abdullah al-Alimi has described Iranian flights as an unacceptable violation of Yemen’s sovereignty, alleging they could be used to transport equipment and personnel to the Houthis, accusations denied by the group and by Iran.
The Houthis, however, insist the flights are humanitarian, saying they are intended to transport patients, stranded civilians and official delegations. They reject the authority of the internationally-recognised government over Sanaa airport, which lies within territory they have controlled for nearly 12 years.
The disagreement reflects the fragmented nature of Yemen’s state institutions since the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014, forcing the government to relocate to Aden and prompting the Saudi-led military intervention the following year.
Control of Sanaa airport has repeatedly emerged as one of the most contentious issues during peace negotiations, with aviation often becoming intertwined with broader discussions over sovereignty, sanctions, humanitarian access and political recognition.
The latest confrontation follows another incident earlier this month when the government said it blocked a separate Iranian aircraft from landing in Sanaa. The Houthis responded by accusing Saudi Arabia of carrying out attacks on the airport before launching missile strikes towards Saudi territory, raising fears of renewed regional escalation.
The timing of the renewed flights has also drawn attention because they come amid wider tensions involving Iran and its regional rivals, increasing scrutiny of Tehran’s activities in Yemen and around the Red Sea.
Regional governments view Yemen as strategically significant because of its position overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
Western and Gulf governments have long accused Iran of supplying military support to the Houthis, allegations denied by Tehran, while the Houthis maintain they act independently.
For Yemen’s government, preventing unauthorised flights has become part of a broader effort to demonstrate that internationally-recognised institutions retain legal authority over the country’s airspace despite losing control of the capital.
For the Houthis, maintaining direct international links through Sanaa airport reinforces their claim to exercise sovereign authority over territories under their control.
As Yemen remains divided between rival centres of power, the dispute over a single aircraft has evolved into a wider contest over legitimacy, foreign alliances and the future shape of the Yemeni state.