Saudi-led coalition strikes Houthi-linked fuel depot near Sanaa
The Saudi-led coalition says it has struck the al-Sabaha fuel depot near Sanaa, accusing Yemen’s Houthi movement of using it to support attacks on Saudi Arabia. The strike adds to an escalating cycle of attacks and threats between the Houthis and the coalition, with risks for civilians and wider consequences for regional security and shipping.
The coalition warned residents to leave before the operation, prompting queues at petrol stations; the Houthi-run Yemen Petroleum Company said the site held no fuel stocks and that supplies remained adequate. The Houthis threatened to target Riyadh’s airport and oil facilities, after missile attacks in Riyadh killed 14 people over two days. Yemen’s conflict has displaced more than 216,000 people, while suspected cholera cases recently rose from 217 to 647, according to the UN.
- Saudi-led coalition says it struck a Houthi-linked fuel depot near Sanaa.
- Houthis threatened further attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities.
- Yemen’s conflict has displaced more than 216,000 people.
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Yemen’s conflict began in 2014, when the Houthi movement took control of the capital, Sanaa, and other areas. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition intervened to support Yemen’s internationally recognised government, and the fighting has since drawn in regional powers.
The Houthis and the coalition have carried out attacks and threats across the region, including around Saudi Arabia. Fuel depots matter because they can support military operations and supply civilians, while damage or disruption can affect daily life; the conflict has also displaced hundreds of thousands of people and strained health services.
The fighting has consequences beyond Yemen and Saudi Arabia, including risks to regional security and shipping. Civilians face the effects of violence, displacement and shortages, while rival claims about military targets and supplies can be difficult to verify independently.
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The case for
Supporters of the strike argue that the coalition has a duty to protect Saudi civilians and deter attacks, and that disrupting fuel infrastructure used to support Houthi operations could reduce the Houthis’ capacity to launch them. They may see advance warnings to residents as an effort to limit civilian harm amid an escalating security threat.
The case against
Critics argue that striking a fuel depot risks harming civilians and disrupting supplies, even if the coalition says the site supports Houthi attacks; the Yemen Petroleum Company disputes that it held fuel stocks. They may also contend that further strikes and threats deepen a conflict already causing displacement and disease, while making regional escalation more likely rather than improving security.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Saudi coalition strikes fuel depot near Yemen’s capital”.