The Saudi-led coalition has conducted a strike on a fuel depot near the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa, according to a coalition spokesperson. Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki accused the Houthis of utilizing the Yemen Petroleum Company's al-Sabaha facility to support their military efforts, including missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia.
Context
The coalition had previously warned civilians to evacuate the site ahead of a "special operation." Houthi media reported that the facility had been struck before al-Maliki confirmed the attack. In response, the Houthis threatened to retaliate by targeting the airport and Aramco refinery in Riyadh, as well as Aramco's headquarters in Dammam.
The escalation follows a recent missile attack that killed thirteen people at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday, with another fatal attack occurring the following day. On Tuesday, the coalition announced that its forces had destroyed three drones north of Riyadh.
Developments
The Houthis have stated that they are targeting airports, oil and gas facilities, and military bases in Saudi Arabia in retaliation for Saudi strikes on their controlled territories in western Yemen, including Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition has been providing air support for Yemeni pro-government forces engaged in an offensive along Yemen's Red Sea coast and other fronts.
