Saudi-led coalition strikes Sanaa as Trump says Houthis act at Iran’s behest

The Saudi-led coalition has instructed civilians to evacuate the Yemen Oil Company's Sabah central station in Sanaa prior to a military operation, according to a statement from the joint forces command. The coalition highlighted the location on a map and advised people to leave the area for their safety. In response, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree threatened a "harsh and painful" retaliation if the Saudi capital Riyadh were targeted.

The Houthi group also urged employees and civilians near Saudi Aramco oil facilities to evacuate and stay away, asserting that these facilities are valid targets for their forces. They claimed to have launched a missile strike against Riyadh airport earlier this week. Tensions have intensified between the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, who have been targeting Saudi airports and oil facilities since the previous week, as a result of the broader regional conflict between the US and Iran.

In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia has carried out strikes against the Houthis and is supporting a Yemeni government counteroffensive following the group's seizure of strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month. This conflict has hampered air travel in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh airport remaining closed in the aftermath of a deadly missile strike claimed by the Houthis on Saturday.