The Houthis, aligned with Iran, have claimed that Saudi Arabia launched an attack on the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, following a warning from the Saudi-led coalition for civilians to avoid an oil depot on the city’s outskirts. Tensions have escalated, with the Houthis intensifying assaults on Saudi airports, including a recent strike on Riyadh that resulted in 13 fatalities, purportedly in retaliation for Saudi support of government forces against them in Yemen’s ongoing civil war.
In response, the Saudi-led coalition disclosed that it targeted the Yemen Petroleum Company’s fuel depot in a mission aimed at crippling the Houthis’ military capabilities, which threaten Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and international maritime routes. While officials maintain that there were no petroleum stocks at the facility, the Houthis have warned of severe repercussions for attacks on Sanaa, potentially targeting critical Saudi oil infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia has recommenced its military operations in Yemen to counteract the Houthis’ territorial advances, particularly around the strategically important Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The conflict has reignited amid heightened geopolitical tensions, drawing in potential allies for both sides. Turkey has expressed support for Saudi efforts, and U.S. President Trump has criticized the Houthi actions, indicating possible international collaboration to bolster Saudi defense against the group.
