CAIRO (Sputnik) — A Russian plane that has been denied landing in Yemen by anti-Houthi coalition forces is currently in Cairo awaiting permission to fly to Yemeni capital, Sanaa, the Russian Embassy in Egypt told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
"The Russian plane is in the Cairo airport awaiting permission to continue on a mission to evacuate Russian citizens from Yemen," an embassy official said, adding that the decision could be taken only by coalition forces, particularly, by Saudi Arabia.
The Lebanon-based Mayadeen news channel reported earlier that the Russian aircraft's arrival was previously agreed upon, but, allegedly, no official confirmation of a plane being sent to Yemen had been issued.
Shiite Houthis, the main opposition force in Yemen, recently took over the country's capital Sanaa, forced the elected president to flee the country, and continued to make a rapid advance in other cities.
Foreign countries and international organizations, including the United Nations, have recently been evacuating their citizens and staff from Yemen amid the intensified conflict in the country.
