Yemen flights canceled after coalition shuts all ports
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Yemen's national airline said Monday it has canceled all flights to the country's only two functioning airports after the Saudi-led coalition battling Houthi rebels announced the closure of all land, air and sea ports.
The tightening of an embargo that has been in place since 2015 came after a ballistic missile fired by the Houthis at an international airport on the outskirts of the Saudi capital was intercepted. The Houthis have fired a number of missiles across the border in recent years, but Saturday's strike appeared to be the deepest yet within Saudi territory. The coalition blamed Iran for Saturday's missile strike, saying it could be "considered as an act of war." Iran supports the Houthis but has denied arming them and said it had nothing to do with the missile launches. The Houthis have said their Volcano-variant ballistic missile is locally produced.
The closures could further limit access for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Arab world's poorest country, which has been devastated by more than two years of conflict. The fighting has killed more than 10,000 civilians and displaced up to 3 million. The coalition said the closures would be temporary and "take into account" the work of aid organizations.
