DOHA, July 3. /TASS/. Forces of the Yemen-based Ansar Allah movement (Houthis) launched missiles at Saudi warplanes entering Yemeni airspace, the rebels said in a statement.

"The Saudi enemy’s warplanes violated the airspace of Yemeni provinces at 5:20 a.m. on Friday morning (2:20 a.m. GMT - TASS) in an attempt to prevent a civilian Iranian plane carrying over 200 wounded and sick persons from abroad from landing at Sana’a International Airport," the statement reads.

The Houthi rebels said they "stopped this attempt by attacking them with several air defense missiles, and forced them out of [Yemen’s] airspace."

The Houthis threatened a comprehensive response to Riyadh, including strikes on Saudi airports and vital ground and maritime facilities, if such incidents recur. The rebels also thanked Tehran for breaking the blockade and announced plans to maintain air links between Sana’a and Tehran.