Houthis claim Saudi Arabia strikes oil site in Yemen's capital

Yemen’s Houthi rebels alleged that Saudi Arabia had attacked an oil facility near the capital Sanaa on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia had previously ordered civilians to evacuate the city in its first such evacuation since the recent war resumed. The coalition’s spokesman instructed residents to leave the Sanaa oil facility belonging to the Yemen Petroleum Company before any strike.

Witnesses in Sanaa reported an explosion after a series of raids on Saudi airports and energy sites. The Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV channel broadcasted a breaking news alert stating, “Saudi aggression targets the oil company in Al-Sabaha, west of Sanaa.” However, the Saudi-led coalition had not confirmed the reported strike.

Following the earlier warning, the Houthis threatened to target Saudi international airport, a refinery, and an Aramco facility in Dammam if the attack proceeded. Yemen’s military spokesman Yahya Saree urged all citizens to evacuate immediately and move away from any targets that Houthi forces would strike. An attack on Riyadh’s airport on Saturday left thirteen people dead, causing operations to halt and shaking the top crude oil exporter.

Many Sanaa civilians rushed to fuel stations due to the fear of shortages. The Yemen Petroleum Company assured the public that they had taken all necessary precautions, with petroleum stocks available in safe facilities and locations to meet demand for a long time. Saudi Arabia continued to face ongoing attacks, with the coalition intercepting three drones north of Riyadh.

Many countries, including France, issued travel warnings for their citizens in Saudi Arabia, with the latter’s capital experiencing a noticeable decrease in traffic due to remote learning for schools and work-from-home orders for some companies. Saudi Arabia is currently facing a major economic contraction, with the International Monetary Fund predicting a 3.3 percent GDP decline this year, amid regional economic woes stemming from Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Houthi attacks have also targeted oil tankers in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia’s alternative export route. The renewed fighting in Yemen is raising concerns about the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. Suspected cholera cases in the country tripled in three weeks, and the World Health Organisation warned of the growing disease burden straining hospitals treating war casualties.