A Saudi Arabian military aircraft briefly landed in Mogadishu on Thursday, renewing scrutiny over Somalia’s airspace following a recent controversy involving Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC).
The Bombardier Global 6000 jet, registered HZ-ATH and operated by Saudi-based Al-Atheer Aviation, touched down at Aden Adde International Airport around midday on January 9, 2026, before departing less than an hour later for Riyadh, according to aviation tracking data and eyewitness accounts.
Somali authorities have not released details on the aircraft’s passengers or cargo, and no official statement was issued regarding the purpose of the stopover. Images and videos circulating on social media showed the jet on the tarmac.
The landing comes two days after Somalia launched an investigation into an earlier flight linked to Aidarous al-Zubaidi, head of Yemen’s UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council. Saudi-led coalition officials said that aircraft had travelled from Berbera in Somaliland to Mogadishu before continuing to Abu Dhabi, allegedly carrying al-Zubaidi and other officials who were avoiding Saudi-hosted peace talks.
The coalition said the aircraft involved in the earlier incident switched off its transponder while flying over the Gulf of Oman, raising concerns over airspace compliance. Somali immigration authorities said they were examining whether Somalia’s airspace and airports were used without proper authorization, citing issues of national sovereignty.
By Thursday evening, Somali officials had not commented publicly on the latest Riyadh-bound flight.
The incidents have drawn regional attention as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates back rival factions in Yemen’s conflict, placing Somalia at the center of growing diplomatic and security sensitivities tied to regional power struggles.
