The Saudi-led coalition conducting operations in Yemen struck a fuel depot operated by the Yemen Petroleum Company near the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa on Tuesday night. In response, the Iran-backed Houthis launched missiles and drones targeting Riyadh and other Saudi cities. According to coalition spokesperson Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki, air defense systems intercepted four missiles and two drones near the Saudi capital, with projectiles also targeting other municipalities. While no casualties were reported from the interception efforts, fires erupted at an Aramco facility in Dhahran following the strikes.
The tit-for-tat attacks represent an escalation in hostilities between the coalition and the Houthi movement. The Houthis have publicly warned of plans to target Riyadh’s airport and Aramco refinery, as well as the company’s headquarters in Dammam. Recent attacks attributed to the group have resulted in significant casualties, including thirteen people killed when a missile struck King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday and another fatality the following day. The Saudi cabinet, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stated the Houthis would face consequences for their recent operations against the kingdom.
The Houthis justify their campaign as retaliation against Saudi military actions in western Yemen, claiming the strikes are in response to what they characterize as a Saudi blockade and offensive operations including an air strike on Sanaa airport. The conflict’s intensity increased in July when the Houthis announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia and began attacking airports, oil facilities, and shipping vessels in the Red Sea. Tensions further escalated in September following Houthi advances near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical global shipping chokepoint.
The broader humanitarian situation in Yemen has deteriorated significantly. The UN reports more than 216,000 people have been displaced across the country, with at least 54 civilians killed since August, including roughly half children. Suspected cholera cases have surged from 217 to 647 within a three-week period. The International Monetary Fund’s leadership cautioned that the escalating conflict carries potential negative economic consequences extending beyond the immediate region.
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