Yemeni pilgrims leave Sanaa for Hajj on first direct flight to Saudi Arabia in 7 years
- 18 Jun 2023
A commercial flight carrying more than 270 Yemeni Muslim pilgrims left the rebel-held capital of Sanaa on Saturday to Saudi Arabia, an official said, the first such flight in about seven years. The coalition closed off the Sanaa airport in Aug. 2016, part of an air and sea blockade on Houthi-held areas in Yemen.
The flight by Yemen’s national carrier Yemenia – also known as Yemen Airways – took off from Sanaa's international airport at 8pm local time, heading to the Saudi coastal city of Jeddah, Khalid al-Shayyef, head of the Yemeni airport, said.
He told The Associated Press the flight was the first of five that would transfer this year’s Muslim pilgrims from Sanaa to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, the pilgrimage to Makkah required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it.
Along with Saturday's flight, two more have been scheduled for Monday and Wednesday, while Houthi and Saudi officials were working on scheduling two additional flights, he said. Millions of Muslims from around the world will start converging next week on Makkah in Saudi Arabia to begin the several days of rituals at holy sites in and around the city.
The flights between Sanaa and Saudi Arabia are another sign of easing tensions between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which has been attempting to end its involvement in the country's conflict. Saudi and Houthi officials have repeatedly met for talks aimed at a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
Such talks gained momentum earlier this year when Saudi Arabia and Iran, the main foreign backer of the Houthis, reached an agreement to restore diplomatic ties after years of frayed relations.
Associated Press