Houthi's Al-Masirah channel reported on 13/10 that Saudi Arabia launched an attack on an oil and gas company in Al-Sabaha, west of Sanaa. A video released on the same day by the X social media account OSINT Warfare showed a plume of smoke rising from a large fire in the area, suspected to be the target of the Saudi strike.

The airstrike followed an evacuation order from the Saudi-led military coalition, which urged civilians to leave the Yemen Oil Company (YPC) compound and the al-Sabaha central station in west Sanaa for their safety.

Smoke rises from a suspected Saudi airstrike site near Yemen's capital, Sanaa, on 13/10. Video: X/OSINT Warfare

Houthi later issued a warning of "harsh and painful retaliation," urging Saudi residents to avoid potential targets, including airports, an Aramco oil refinery in Riyadh, and the company's headquarters in Dammam.

Following Saudi Arabia's warning, many residents in Sanaa queued at gas stations, fearing fuel shortages, according to AFP. The YPC, however, assured the public that it had implemented all necessary emergency precautions to meet demand.

"The Al-Sabaha station no longer stores any oil and gas products; therefore, an attack on this location will not affect fuel reserves or the supply chain", YPC announced. The company added, "Supplies for consumers are available at safe facilities and locations, in sufficient quantities to meet long-term needs."

Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen. Graphics: CNN

The Saudi-led coalition launched its operation in response to a series of Houthi attacks on Saudi airports and oil and gas infrastructure. The most severe of these incidents occurred on 10/10, when a missile struck King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, resulting in 13 fatalities and over 300 injuries.

Saudi Arabia continued to face new attacks on 13/10, as its air defense intercepted three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) north of Riyadh. This prompted several countries to issue travel warnings for their citizens in Saudi Arabia, advising them to avoid airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.

The Yemen civil war began in 2014, with Houthi forces quickly seizing the capital, Sanaa, and controlling large swaths of territory. In 3/2015, the Saudi-led military coalition intervened. The conflict saw a period of calm following a United Nations-brokered ceasefire agreement in 2022.

Moment the King Khalid Airport terminal was attacked on 10/10. Video: Al Arabiya

Fighting between Houthi and the internationally recognized, Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces reignited in 7/. The armed group also declared a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, targeting its ships in the Red Sea.

In 9/, Houthi launched a swift offensive, gaining control of the Red Sea coastal area and several strategic islands commanding the Bab el-Mandeb strait. Last week, Yemeni government forces, with Saudi air support, launched a counteroffensive to reclaim these areas, but progress has been slow.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, Reuters, AP, Al-Masirah)