ANKARA: Iran’s foreign ministry summoned the Saudi charge d’affaires on Friday in protest against Riyadh’s interception of two Iranian planes carrying humanitarian aid to Yemen, the Students News Agency ISNA reported.

ISNA said two Iranian cargo planes carrying food and medicine to Yemen had been forced by Saudi jets to leave Yemeni airspace, one on Thursday and another on Friday.

“Unfortunately, Saudi fighter jets have blocked two Iranian planes, which were carrying wounded Yemenis who had been treated in Iran and also carrying humanitarian and medical aid, from landing in Yemen and forced them to return home,” ISNA quoted an unnamed Iranian official as telling the Saudi diplomat.

“This is brazen interference in Yemen’s state affairs and also a violation of Yemen’s airspace.”

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play