Yemen's Houthis threaten Saudi Aramco sites after coalition strikes in Sanaa
Yemen’s Houthis have threatened to strike Saudi Aramco facilities after the Saudi-led coalition ordered civilians to leave an oil facility in the capital Sanaa ahead of a planned attack.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces warn all employees and citizens near any Aramco oil facility to evacuate and stay away from it, as it is a legitimate target for our forces,” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree posted on X on Tuesday.
The warning came after the coalition told civilians to evacuate the Yemeni Oil Company’s al-Sabaha central station in Sanaa before a military operation.
Saree had earlier warned that any strike on Sanaa would be met with a “harsh and painful” response in Riyadh. He named Aramco’s headquarters, King Khalid International Airport and an Aramco-affiliated refinery in Riyadh as sites civilians should leave.
Explosions were reported in Sanaa shortly after the coalition’s order. Houthi-affiliated media said air strikes had hit an oil facility in the al-Sabaha area.
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The coalition said its forces intercepted three drones north of Riyadh on Tuesday.
Multiple blasts
The Saudi capital came under attack on Monday night after the Houthis said they had fired a ballistic missile at the city’s airport. Saree said the group had also launched a drone at King Khalid Air Base near Khamis Mushait in the kingdom’s south.
Coalition spokesperson Turki al-Maliki said one ballistic missile fired at Riyadh and two fired towards Khamis Mushait were intercepted.
A western official in Riyadh told Middle East Eye there had been multiple blasts across the capital on Monday night, as video footage on social media appeared to show large fires. MEE could not independently verify the footage.
Monday’s attacks followed weekend strikes on King Khalid International Airport that killed at least 14 people and injured about 320.
The airport remains closed. Saudi authorities have said it will stay shut until further notice, and a Notice to Airmen (Notam) indicates the closure will last until at least 17 October.
On Saturday, the US Mission in Saudi Arabia told American citizens to avoid the airport and its surroundings, and warned of flight cancellations and airspace closures. The State Department has advised Americans to reconsider travel to the kingdom since mid-September.
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