Explosions in Sanaa reported shortly after the Saudi-led coalition’s evacuation order, as the Houthis promise a “harsh” response.
Published On 13 Oct 2026
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have warned all employees and civilians to evacuate Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities, labeling the installations as legitimate military targets.
The warning came from Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree on Tuesday, following an evacuation order issued by the Saudi-led coalition. The coalition had urged civilians to leave the Yemeni Oil Company’s al-Sabah central station in the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, ahead of a planned military operation.
Shortly after the coalition’s evacuation order, Al Jazeera correspondents on the ground reported hearing explosions in Sanaa. Media outlets affiliated with the Houthis claimed that Saudi-backed forces conducted airstrikes on an oil facility in the al-Sabaha area of the capital.
Following the reported explosions, Saree stated that Houthi fighters were actively engaging Saudi-backed forces in Sanaa. He warned that any strikes on the capital would be met with a “harsh and painful” response targeting the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
In an official statement on social media platform X, Saree declared that the Houthis would target the specific sites ordered for evacuation if the Saudi-led coalition proceeded with an attack on Sanaa. These sites include the Aramco headquarters in Dammam, King Khalid International Airport, and an Aramco-affiliated refinery in Riyadh.
The threat of attacks comes amidst ongoing tensions, following a deadly strike on King Khalid International Airport last Saturday that killed at least 13 people and injured over 300. Another projectile hit the airport on Sunday, resulting in one death and 11 injuries.
Due to the escalating security situation, numerous major international airlines—including Air France-KLM, Air India, Etihad, Lufthansa, Delta, Gulf Air, and Qatar Airways—have suspended flights to Saudi Arabia and neighboring countries.
The Saudi-backed coalition, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognized government, reported intercepting three drones north of Riyadh on Tuesday as new attacks continued. Saree also reiterated warnings targeting Saudi airports, highlighting the spillover from the broader regional conflict between the US and Iran.
Saudi Arabia has recently intensified airstrikes against the Houthis while supporting a Yemeni government counteroffensive called the “Dawn of Yemen,” launched after the group seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast last month.