Yemen: A glimmer of hope in a devastating war
Al JazeeraNov 18, 2021
Yemen's Sanaa Airport Reopens to Commercial Flights After 6 Years
Image copyright: Reuters [via France 24]
The Facts
On Mon., a Yemenia flight carrying +100 passengers was the first commercial flight in nearly 6 yrs to take off from Sanaa, Yemen - a major step forward in a peace process that has provided rare relief from conflict in the country.
The airport has been closed to commercial traffic since 2016 due to a blockade by the Saudi-led coalition - which backs the internationally recognized government and has been fighting Iran-aligned Houthis who took control of Sanaa in 2014.
The Spin
Narrative A
This is a massive achievement, and an important stepping stone towards lasting peace. Reopening the airport was long overdue and will save thousands of lives. The conflicting sides have demonstrated that they can find common ground to benefit the Yemeni people, offering hope for further truces.
Narrative B
While the reopening of the Sanaa airport is a step in the right direction that may address humanitarian issues and could pave the way to a military de-escalation, it doesn't mean the end of the conflict as the warring sides have yet to find a comprehensive political solution.
Establishment-critical narrative
The war in Yemen, now in its eighth year, is every bit as brutal as what's taking place in Ukraine. The West's failure to address this humanitarian disaster or cover it in the media with any sort of urgency says a lot about its inherent bias and who it considers worthy and unworthy victims.