Riyadh, October 14: Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Houthi rebels in Yemen have escalated once again. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia launched an attack on a major fuel depot allegedly used by Houthi rebels in northern Yemen. According to the Saudi-led coalition, this site was being utilized for operations targeting Saudi airports, energy facilities, and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
The strike comes amid increasing threats from Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have been launching missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh, and its southern regions. The latest conflict has raised concerns over regional security and the safety of energy installations.
The coalition reported that its forces targeted the Al-Sabaha Central Station in northern Yemen, identified as one of the main fuel distribution centers controlled by the Houthis. The station reportedly has a storage capacity of approximately 58,000 metric tons.
The coalition claims that Houthi rebels were using this facility to support military operations aimed at targets within Saudi Arabia and maritime routes in the Red Sea.
However, the Houthi-controlled Yemen Oil Company previously stated that there were no petroleum products stored at this center. According to the company, the attack was not expected to significantly impact fuel reserves or supplies.
The Houthi side reported that two civilians were killed and two others injured in the Saudi attack. Conversely, the Saudi-led coalition claimed that civilians were warned to evacuate the affected area before the operation.
Coalition spokesman Major General Turki Al-Maliki stated that the objective of the operation was to weaken the capabilities used by Houthi rebels to pose threats to Saudi Arabia, Yemen, the southern Red Sea, and maritime routes. However, independent verification of the damage and civilian casualties has not been available.
Hours after the fuel depot attack, the Saudi-led coalition announced that it had intercepted and destroyed three cruise missiles and two drones launched towards the Riyadh area and southern Saudi Arabia.
According to Saudi officials, at least four people were injured due to debris from the interception. These incidents have heightened concerns about the security of major urban areas and strategic installations in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged of an administrative building of the state oil company Saudi Aramco being targeted in the city of Dhahran in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. This incident resulted in a minor fire in the building.
The Saudi Ministry of Energy reported that there were no injuries from this incident. The recent events around energy facilities have raised alarms regarding the security of oil supply and energy infrastructure in the region.
Amid the latest attacks and counteractions, questions are being raised about the implications for Saudi Arabia’s security, the situation of civilians in Yemen, and the potential impact on vital maritime routes in the Red Sea. If the conflict escalates further, it could affect regional stability, the movement of commercial vessels, and energy supplies.