Official coalition spokesman asks UN to run Sana’a International Airport.

:: Official spokesman of the coalition (the coalition to restore legitimate Yemeni government), Colonel Turki Al-malki, announced that the Joint Forces Command had followed what was published by OCHA in Yemen regarding banning commercial flights from and to Sana’a International Airport, he added that the coalition command had and is still working to its best efforts to ensure the safe arrival of all commercial, cargo and relief flights to all Yemeni airports in Sana’a, Aden, Al Hudaydah, Seiyun, Mukalla and Socotra through issuing proper flight permits for all incoming requests, and assigning Bisha National Airport for air traffic management in accordance with UNSCR 2216.

“Closing Sana’a airport and limiting it to relief efforts came as a precaution to ensure the safety of all inbound commercial and cargo flights, due to the Houthi armed militia’s attempts to smuggle arms into the country. As a result, we have assigned airports in liberated, and safe cities as alternatives at the request of the Yemeni government. Thus, these precautionary measured should not be stigmatized as cause of suffering for Yemeni people.”

He explains that the flight permits issued to every Yemeni airport ever since the beginning of operations has reached 5765 for commercial, cargo and humanitarian relief flights, and asks UN to contribute in resuming flights from and to Sana’a airport through managing airport security and putting the legitimate Yemeni government fears to rest.

“Should airport management and security be conducted properly, insuring the safety of all inbound flights and stopping arms smuggling, Joint Forces Command is prepared to restore normal flight activity.”