The Saudi-led military coalition has reportedly carried out an airstrike targeting the al-Sabaha fuel storage facility near the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital of Sanaa. Coalition spokesperson Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki alleged that the Houthis were utilizing the infrastructure to fuel their military operations, including missile and drone strikes directed against Saudi territory. Prior to the operation, the coalition had issued evacuation warnings to local civilians in the surrounding area.
Following the coalition's warnings, long queues quickly formed at petrol stations across Sanaa as residents panicked over potential fuel shortages. The Houthi-run Yemen Petroleum Company attempted to reassure the public by claiming that the targeted facility supposedly held no active petroleum reserves and that emergency measures were in place to maintain supply stability. Meanwhile, Houthi leadership has warned of retaliatory strikes targeting critical infrastructure and oil facilities within the Saudi capital.
This latest escalation coincides with a stern warning from the Saudi cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, asserting that the Iran-backed movement will bear the full consequences of recent deadly attacks on the kingdom. Observers note that the ongoing conflict continues to inflict a devastating toll on the local population, exacerbating the already severe humanitarian crisis across Yemen.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk