Saudi Arabia launched strikes on a fuel depot outside Yemen’s capital Tuesday as Houthi forces threatened attacks on major Saudi energy facilities, escalating a conflict that has already killed civilians and disrupted regional aviation.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Saudi-led coalition forces launched airstrikes near Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Tuesday, October 13, targeting an oil storage facility after warning civilians to evacuate the surrounding area. The operation triggered new threats from Iran-backed Houthi forces, which warned they could retaliate against major Saudi oil installations.
Houthi-operated Al-Masirah television reported that the strikes hit the Yemen Petroleum Company’s Sabah central station on the outskirts of Sanaa. The company said the facility contained no petroleum stocks at the time of the attack and maintained that the damage would not disrupt fuel reserves or distribution.
The strikes followed a week of Houthi missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi airports, including Saturday’s deadly ballistic missile strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. The attack killed 13 people and injured hundreds, marking the deadliest assault on Saudi territory in approximately a decade.
Subsequent attacks forced airlines to suspend flights at multiple airports, disrupting travel while Saudi Arabia hosted a major international energy conference.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned that attacks on Sanaa would trigger a “harsh and painful” response against Saudi Arabia. He identified Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran and an oil refinery in Riyadh as potential targets.
The group also repeated warnings urging employees at Saudi oil installations to stay away from facilities that could face attack.
Saudi Arabia responded with a warning of its own. Following a Cabinet meeting chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom declared that the Houthis would face consequences for their continuing attacks against Saudi territory.
The latest confrontation follows the collapse of a prolonged reduction in fighting between Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces and the Houthis, who control Sanaa and substantial portions of northern Yemen.
Saudi Arabia resumed its military campaign after Houthi fighters advanced along Yemen’s Red Sea coast last month, threatening the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The narrow waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as a critical route for commercial shipping and energy transportation.
Its importance has increased considerably since the broader U.S.-Iran war began February 28, particularly after Iranian actions restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces launched a counteroffensive last week, pushing Houthi units away from territory closest to Bab el-Mandeb. However, the Houthis remain entrenched nearby and have reportedly captured additional positions around Taiz.
The military setbacks and territorial changes have contributed to renewed cross-border attacks as both sides attempt to gain leverage.
Saudi Arabia has sought additional assistance from regional allies to strengthen its defenses and support operations against the Houthis.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday and pledged Ankara’s support for the kingdom, according to the Turkish presidency. The statement did not identify specific military commitments.
Turkey and Pakistan signed a mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia during the summer, although the Turkish parliament has not yet ratified the treaty.
President Donald Trump also spoke with Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday as the fighting intensified.
Speaking to reporters, Trump described the Houthis as “behaving very badly” and suggested he might ask Erdogan to intervene in support of Saudi interests.
Despite its longstanding defense relationship with Riyadh, Washington has not agreed to Saudi requests for direct American military participation against the Houthis.
Iran, meanwhile, has offered to mediate between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi movement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the proposal Sunday, with Tehran reiterating the offer Monday.
The renewed Yemen conflict has become another front in the wider confrontation involving Iran and the United States, raising concerns about additional attacks on civilian infrastructure, energy installations and international shipping.
With both sides threatening further military action, the strikes around Sanaa and the Houthi warnings against Saudi oil facilities have heightened the risk of a broader regional escalation.
Comments