Saudi Arabia launched a series of airstrikes on a strategic oil depot on the outskirts of Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict with Iran-backed Houthi forces. Before the offensive, Saudi officials issued a warning for civilians to vacate the target area. The Central Sabaha Station, located on the city’s western edge, contains large tanks frequently used for fuel storage, although the Yemeni Oil Company reported that the site was empty at the time of the bombardment.
This campaign coincides with broader strikes across the region, including 10 waves of attacks targeting Houthi oil infrastructure at the Ras Isa port in Hodeidah, and a separate strike on a suspected leadership hideout in the Bani Mu’in area of the Razih border district. These military maneuvers are aimed at immobilizing Houthi forces as they push southward toward the city of Taiz. The subject of Israeli attacks in 2024, were also struck in 10 waves of attacks apparently aimed at immobilising the Houthi army as it continues its push south, including towards the city of Taiz, houthi oil depots at the Ras Isa port in Hodeidah. They are cheap and it does not take many to get through to be effective”.
The current cycle of violence follows a deadly Houthi attack on King Khalid international airport in Riyadh last Saturday, which resulted in 13 deaths and 300 injuries. The facility remains closed until at least Saturday, impacting the nation’s economic security ambitions. In response to the latest Saudi strikes, a Houthi spokesperson threatened further retaliation, warning employees and citizens near any Aramco-affiliated facilities in Riyadh to evacuate, labeling them as legitimate targets. A blow to an economy that is trying to show its security makes the country a safe place to invest, the airport is closed until Saturday at the earliest.
Later on Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition reported that it intercepted a missile aimed at Dharan, the headquarters of the national energy firm Saudi Aramco. While the interception occurred, fragments reportedly fell into a residential neighborhood, causing loud booms. Four sources indicated that an evacuation order for the building had been issued, though Aramco provided no official comment on the incident. The incident underlined how Saudi Arabia has complete air dominance over Yemen while the Houthis have to reply using drones and missiles which can be intercepted. But the two sides’ dramatic threats to set ablaze the enemy energy infrastructure symbolised how the conflict is escalating rather than blowing itself out.
Military analysts suggest the conflict is growing increasingly dangerous as the Houthis refine their drone and missile technology. Baraa Shiban of the Royal United Services Institute noted that Saudi Arabia is struggling to counter these improved systems. Modern Houthi drones are smaller, fly at lower altitudes, and are more difficult to detect than previous models, making them harder to intercept before they strike.
The geopolitical stakes are further complicated by the situation in the south. The Houthis have recently tightened their grip on Taiz, prompting city leaders to appeal for government military support amid critical shortages of medical supplies. Meanwhile, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), which aims to secede from the north, has stepped up its role in the anti-Houthi resistance. This week, the Houthis have come closer to throttling the southern city of Taiz, drawing close enough to the city edges to fire rockets into residential areas.
STC leader Aidarous al Zubaidi, currently exiled in Abu Dhabi, issued a rare call for popular mobilization to defend the south and advance its liberation project. While Zubaidi faces treason charges in Yemen, there are indications of behind-the-scenes discussions regarding whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman might eventually provide legitimacy to the STC, potentially balancing the reduced military effectiveness of the current government led by Rashad al-Alimi.
From the United States, Donald Trump condemned the Houthi actions, describing the rebels as “behaving very badly.” He stated he would “never forget” the attacks, suggesting they were intended to influence the upcoming US midterm elections, though he refrained from detailing any new military response. The conflict has intensified since last month, when rebels seized key positions along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital artery for international oil transit.
