United States urges Yemen Houthi rebels to end 'aggressive acts' after airport drone strike

Yemen's Iran-backed rebel group have claimed responsibility for a drone strike on a Saudi Arabia airport, which left a civilian aircraft engulfed in flames.

Armed Houthi supporters ride a vehicle in Sanaa, Yemen, after claiming an attack on the Abha airport of Saudi Arabia.

Armed Houthi supporters ride a vehicle in Sanaa, Yemen, after claiming an attack on the Abha airport of Saudi Arabia. Source: AAP

The United States has demanded Yemen's Houthis rebels end attacks following a drone strike on an airport in Saudi Arabia that came days after President Joe Biden moved to end its .

"There is no military solution to the war in Yemen. We again urge the Houthis to immediately stop these aggressive acts," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Thursday.

Mr Price called on the Houthis to "demonstrate a true commitment to constructively engage in peace negotiations", noting that the new US envoy on Yemen, Tim Lenderking, was visiting Saudi Arabia.
He indicated that the Biden administration did not intend to reconsider removing the Houthis from the terrorist blacklist - a last-minute decision by Donald Trump's administration that aid groups said would jeopardise humanitarian work.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken's "intent to revoke this designation has absolutely nothing to do with the reprehensible conduct of the Houthis", Mr Price said.

"We remain committed to improving support for our partner Saudi Arabia to defend itself against threats to its territory."

The Houthis rebels on Thursday claimed the drone attack that left a civilian aircraft engulfed in flames, saying the facility was used to launch attacks on Yemen.
"A cowardly criminal terrorist attack launched against Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia by the Houthis militia," state-run Al-Ekhbariya television cited the coalition as saying.

"A fire that engulfed a passenger plane due to the Houthis attack on Abha Airport is under control," it added.

The coalition did not report any casualties or say how the attack was carried out, but earlier in the day reported it had intercepted two "booby trap" drones in the south.

The rebels appear to be stepping up attacks on the kingdom as well as on Riyadh-backed Yemeni forces after the US move to delist them as a terrorist group.
They have also resumed an offensive to seize the Yemeni government's last northern stronghold of Marib, according to a government source, with dozens of casualties on both sides. 

The delisting move came a day after in Yemen.

Humanitarian groups were deeply opposed to the designation, saying it jeopardised their operations in a country where the majority of people rely on aid, and that they have no choice but to deal with the Houthis, who control much of the north.

Saudi Arabia, which entered the Yemen conflict in 2015 to bolster the internationally recognised government, has repeatedly been targeted with cross-border attacks.

Last month, it said it had intercepted and destroyed a "hostile air target" heading towards the capital Riyadh.


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Published 11 February 2021 8:04am
Updated 11 February 2021 8:09am
Source: AFP, SBS


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