The Coalition carries out a military operation to neutralize sources fueling the Houthi war effort
Amman4 min read
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The official spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, announced the execution of a qualitative military operation to neutralize vital sources used by the Houthi militia to support its war effort, confirming that the group has harnessed civilian objects and fuel facilities to serve its military operations and threaten Saudi Arabia and international navigation.
Al-Maliki explained in a press statement on Monday that the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition has verified the Houthis' use of the Al-Sabaha central station in Sana'a, underground fuel reserve depots, and fuel tanks and berths designated for transporting and unloading fuel in Hodeidah, Sana'a, and Dhamar, to support their military operations and deprive the Yemeni people of benefiting from these resources, which are supposed to be legitimately allocated to meet their needs.
He indicated that these sites were used to support the arsenal of missiles and drones that threaten the Kingdom and the safety of navigation, ports, and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, noting that this contributed to carrying out attacks against civilians and civilian objects and planning imminent attacks targeting civilian objects in the Kingdom and commercial vessels in international waterways.
Al-Maliki stressed that the operation aims to neutralize the Houthi capabilities that threaten the Kingdom, Yemen, the southern Red Sea, and waterways, affirming the Coalition forces' commitment to international humanitarian law and taking all possible precautions to avoid incidental losses or damage to civilians during the planning and execution of the operation.
He demanded that the Houthis immediately cease all operations targeting civilians and civilian objects, including airports, ports, oil facilities, and infrastructure.
On the ground, sources from Sana'a reported on Tuesday that airstrikes were launched on the Houthi-affiliated Al-Sabaha oil station, following the Saudi-led Coalition's request to evacuate the Yemen Petroleum Company site and the Al-Sabaha central station in preparation for a military operation.
The news of the raids coincided with the Coalition's announcement of intercepting and destroying three drones north of Riyadh, while Al-Maliki called on civilians to evacuate the site specified in an illustrative map to ensure their safety.
Saudi Position
The Saudi Council of Ministers affirmed on Tuesday that the Houthi militia will face the consequences of its crimes and repeated attacks on the Kingdom's airports, Makkah, Madinah, visitors to the Two Holy Mosques, and civilian and economic facilities, expressing its condolences to the families of the victims and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chaired the Council's session in Riyadh, where the Council valued the role of the armed forces in defending the Kingdom, protecting its gains and capabilities, and deterring any aggression or threat to its sovereignty and the safety of citizens and residents on its territory.
The Council also praised the operations of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, which aim to neutralize the Houthi threat to the Yemeni people and protect international peace, security, global trade movement, and supply chains, confirming that the Kingdom will not allow its security or the freedom of maritime navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait to be threatened.
Houthi Threats
In response, the Houthi military spokesman, Yahya Saree, announced that the group's forces are confronting the attacks targeting Sana'a, threatening a "harsh and painful" response in Riyadh if the Yemeni capital is attacked.
Saree called on workers and citizens near Aramco facilities to evacuate them, and demanded the evacuation of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, renewing his warnings to airlines regarding the airspace and airports he had previously announced, and threatening to target the sites the group had demanded be evacuated if Sana'a were attacked.
In a separate field development, Houthi-affiliated media reported two raids on the Bani Mu'in and Bakil areas in the Razih district of Saada Governorate.
The escalation comes after the Coalition announced on Monday the interception of two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis toward Khamis Mushait, while the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation had announced the extension of the suspension of operational activities at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
