ADEN, Yemen, July 4 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) on Friday called the landing of an Iranian civilian aircraft at Houthi-held Sanaa International Airport a "flagrant violation" of Yemen's sovereignty.

The state-run Saba News Agency reported that the PLC held an emergency meeting chaired by PLC Chairman Rashad al-Alimi to discuss what it described as the "serious repercussions" of Iran's decision to operate a direct flight to Sanaa International Airport, which is under the control of the Houthi group.

The council said the flight constituted "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Yemen and a blatant challenge to international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions."

The Houthi group said Friday that an Iranian civilian aircraft carrying more than 200 Yemeni patients and stranded passengers arrived at Sanaa International Airport after Houthi forces intercepted Saudi warplanes that had allegedly entered Yemeni airspace to prevent its landing.

The aircraft later departed for Tehran with Yemeni patients and travelers, as well as a senior Houthi delegation traveling to attend the funeral ceremonies of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Yemen has been mired in conflict since late 2014, when the Houthis seized control of the capital Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year in support of the internationally-recognized government.

A UN-mediated truce between the Yemeni government and the Houthis, first reached in April 2022 and renewed twice, lasted for six months before expiring. Both sides have largely maintained a "de facto ceasefire" since then, despite sporadic clashes in several contested regions.