The Saudi-led coalition has launched an airstrike on a fuel depot near Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, according to coalition spokesperson Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki. The attack targeted a facility controlled by the Houthis, which the coalition accuses of supporting missile and drone strikes against Saudi Arabia.
Escalating Conflict
Prior to the strike, the coalition had warned civilians to evacuate the area, describing the action as a “special operation.” Houthi media confirmed the strike shortly before al-Maliki’s official announcement. In response, the Houthis have threatened to retaliate by targeting key sites in Saudi Arabia, including the airport and Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Dammam.
The Saudi cabinet, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has stated that the Iran-backed Houthis will “bear the consequences” of their recent attacks on Saudi targets. This comes after a missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh resulted in the deaths of thirteen people, with another fatality occurring in a similar incident the following day. The coalition reported destroying three drones north of Riyadh on Tuesday.
Impact on Yemen
The ongoing conflict in Yemen, which began in 2014 when the Houthis took control of Sanaa, has severely impacted the nation. The Saudi-led coalition has been involved in air support operations for Yemeni pro-government forces, who are currently engaged in an offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast and other front lines.
Following the coalition’s warning about the al-Sabaha oil facility, residents in Sanaa were seen queuing at petrol stations, fearing fuel shortages. The Yemen Petroleum Company, operated by the Houthis, assured the public that the facility had no petroleum stock and that measures were in place to maintain supply stability.
Humanitarian Concerns
The conflict has had dire humanitarian consequences, with the UN reporting that hundreds have been killed since August, including at least 54 civilians, half of whom were children. Displacement has affected over 216,000 people, and suspected cholera cases have surged from 217 to 647 in just three weeks.
The situation in Yemen remains critical, as continued hostilities threaten to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and further destabilize the region.
Source: BBC World News
