Yemen’s Houthi militia demand the blockade of Sana’a International Airport to be lifted so that they can use it for ulterior military purposes, the country’s presidential advisor has said.
In a tweet, Abdulmalik Al-Mikhlafi said: “The Houthi [militia leader Abdulmalik Al-Houthi] believes that he can get rewards for all the destruction he has incurred in Yemen including … by seeking a permit [from the Arab Coalition] to operate flights to destinations that can be used militarily. He does not want the airport opened to alleviate any humanitarian suffering.”
Alluding to the ongoing US and UN-mediated talks between the Houthis and the government, Al-Mikhlafi said in another tweet, “Houthi uses the humanitarian suffering in Yemen as a blackmail, yet he does not accept a humanitarian wise solution. He asserts only a solution of the kind that fulfills his political, military and financial goals.”
The government’s approval of a partial lifting on the Sana’a airport blockade has triggered a wide outcry in Yemen with activists warning the government of that a Houthi aerial bridge with the world will allow the Shia extremist militia to smuggle in arms and conquer the rest of the Yemeni territory.