The coalition in Yemen orders the evacuation of an oil site in Sanaa... and a Houthi warning of a “harsh response”

On Tuesday, the coalition in Yemen, led by Saudi Arabia, issued an evacuation order for an oil site in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, to implement what it said was a “qualitative operation.” While the Houthi group warned of a "harsh response" if the Yemeni capital was targeted, it responded with a similar order to stay away from Saudi Aramco facilities.

A statement by the coalition spokesman, Turki Al-Maliki, said: “The leadership of the joint forces of the coalition asks civilians to evacuate the site of the Yemeni Oil Company / Al-Sabahah Central Station in Sana’a, according to the illustrative map of the site, for their safety.” He also said in a brief statement that preceded the evacuation order: “We will shortly issue a warning to civilians to evacuate a site in Sanaa with the aim of carrying out a qualitative operation.”

The "coalition" announced earlier, on Tuesday, the interception and destruction of 3 drones north of the capital, Riyadh. On the other hand, Al-Masirah TV, which is linked to the Houthis, reported that the group's forces warned Saudi Arabia against targeting Sanaa, and stressed that it would "meet this with a harsh and painful response" in Riyadh.

The spokesman for the Houthi forces, Yahya Saree, said in his account on the Later, Saree explained the locations that the group intends to target in Saudi Arabia if strikes occur in Sanaa, specifying them as “Aramco headquarters in Dammam, Khalid Airport in Riyadh, and Aramco’s Riyadh refinery.”

The attacks of the Yemeni Houthi group, allied with Iran, on Saudi Arabia escalated during the past week, targeting airports and vital installations, resulting in deaths and hundreds of injuries, in a development that kept King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh closed. The Saudi army stated that it intercepted a missile over Riyadh and destroyed two other missiles over Khamis Mushait, southwest of the country. The armed forces under the control of the Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for the attacks, noting that they targeted King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and a military base.

The group also renewed its warnings to international airlines against operating flights to Saudi airports. These attacks came shortly after the Saudi authorities announced that King Khalid International Airport would remain closed until further notice, as a notice to air navigation (NOTAM) indicated that the airport would remain closed until at least October 17.

Saudi Arabia launched a large-scale attack last week, in support of the Yemeni government forces in their confrontation with the Houthis, but the group has so far managed to withstand and maintain its positions.