Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Disclosed Carrying Out a Limited Military Operation Against Legitimate Military Targets in Sana’a Airport Following their Use for Military Purposes by the Houthis, and their Direct Contribution to Military Action

Monday 1443/5/16 - 2021/12/20
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Riyadh, Dec. 20, 2021, SPA -- Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Brigadier General Turki Al-Malki issued the following statement: “The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition has carried out this evening, Monday (20 December 2021), a limited military operation against legitimate military targets in Sana’a Airport after they were used for military purposes by the terrorist, Iran-backed Houthi militia.
The Houthi militia has abused the special protection accorded to the airport through conducting and launching hostile, cross-border operations using ballistic missiles and bomb-laden drones to target civilians and civilian objects in Yemen and its neighboring countries.
The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition has undertaken all legal procedures to void the protection of certain locations in the airport in accordance with paragraph (2) of Article (52) of Protocol Additional I, and Rules (7,8) of the Customary International Humanitarian Law. On these grounds, the military operation was carried out to achieve the definitive military advantage of the targeting operation. The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition has also undertaken all necessary measures and procedures to protect civilians and those locations, which are accorded special protection, prior to the operation through issuing and distributing advance warnings across viable means.
The targeted locations are (6) locations that are being used to command bomb-laden drone attacks and activities, train terrorist elements on bomb-laden drones, trainers and trainees housing and two bomb-laden drones storage facilities.
Neutralizing and destroying these targets will have no effect on the operational capacity of the airport, and will not affect air traffic management, airspace management or ground handling operations.
Voiding the protection accorded to the targeted locations in the airport and the targeting operation were carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Customary International Humanitarian Law.”
-- SPA
23:15 LOCAL TIME 20:15 GMT
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