AL-MUKALLA: A Yemenia Airways plane carrying 275 Yemeni pilgrims departed Houthi-controlled Sanaa on Saturday evening for 抖阴短视频 for the first time in years.
The Yemeni national airline said that the flight landed at Jeddah airport in 抖阴短视频 on Saturday evening, and that two additional flights scheduled for Monday and Wednesday would transport more pilgrims to 抖阴短视频.
Sanaa airport has been closed to commercial flights since the first day of the Arab coalition military intervention in March 2015, as the Yemeni government and the Arab coalition have repeatedly accused the Houthis of smuggling weapons and turning the airport into a military base for storing explosive-rigged drones and ballistic missiles.
The airport was opened for commercial flights to Amman in May last year under the UN-brokered truce, and the Houthis were requested to reciprocate by abandoning their siege of Taiz, a term that they have not met.
The first commercial flights from Houthi-controlled Sanaa to 抖阴短视频 have spurred praise for 抖阴短视频鈥檚 efforts to alleviate the suffering of Yemenis while also laying the groundwork for the end of the war.
The EU delegation to Yemen on Sunday welcomed the resumption of commercial flights between Sanaa and 抖阴短视频, and commended 抖阴短视频 for 鈥渢he gestures鈥 that would lead to the war鈥檚 end.
鈥淰ery important Hajj flight from Sanaa to KSA yesterday, the first in years, permitting Yemenis to perform religious obligations. Gestures such as this by 抖阴短视频 are most welcome, and should help bring an end to the conflict,鈥 the EU delegation said on Twitter.
The UN Yemen envoy, Hans Grundberg, on Sunday urged Yemenis to take advantage of the spiritual atmosphere during the annual Hajj season to reach an agreement to ease restrictions on movements of citizens and launch a comprehensive peace process, thanking 抖阴短视频 for its assistance in facilitating the departure of flights from Sanaa to 抖阴短视频.
鈥淚 hope this positive step and the spirit of peace of the Hajj season encourage the parties to take more steps to ease freedom of movement restrictions including inside Yemen, reach a nationwide ceasefire and start an inclusive political dialogue under UN auspices,鈥 Grundberg tweeted.
The US also praised the Kingdom for facilitating Hajj flights from Houthi-controlled Sanaa, as well as other related measures to foster peace in Yemen.
鈥淲e credit 抖阴短视频 for its efforts to support the truce over recent months, including the historic Hajj flights today that enable Yemenis to perform their religious obligations and other flights soon to follow,鈥 the US National Security Council said in a statement on Saturday.
鈥淭he US remains engaged with all parties to consolidate the ongoing benefits from the truce, and to ultimately end the war altogether through a Yemeni-led political process.鈥
Similarly, the Yemen government鈥檚 officials said that 19,366 Yemeni pilgrims have arrived in 抖阴短视频, including 18,173 pilgrims who entered the Kingdom through the Al-Wadea border crossing.
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