A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognized government called on civilians on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, to evacuate a petroleum facility in Sanaa. The coalition’s joint forces command issued a statement and a map identifying the Yemen Petroleum Company’s Al-Sabaha central station as the location of a planned military operation. Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki, a spokesperson for the coalition, urged civilians to leave the area for their safety ahead of a "precision operation."
The warning follows a period of escalated fighting between the coalition and Houthi forces, who have been attacking Saudi Arabian infrastructure since last week. The Houthi group, which is aligned with Iran and controls the capital city of Sanaa, claimed responsibility for a missile strike on Riyadh airport on Saturday, Oct. 10. That facility has remained closed following the strike. The coalition has responded in recent weeks by launching airstrikes and supporting a Yemeni government counteroffensive after Houthi forces seized territory along the Red Sea coast in September.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree warned that strikes on Sanaa would be met with a "harsh and painful" response in Riyadh. Additionally, the Houthi leadership directed employees and civilians to stay away from Saudi Aramco oil facilities, which they designated as legitimate targets. A separate report from the region indicated that 10 airstrikes occurred in Yemen's western Al Hudaydah province.
The planned operation and retaliatory threats affect energy infrastructure sites in both Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The Yemen Petroleum Company's Al-Sabaha central station is located in the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa, while Houthi forces have targeted Saudi Aramco facilities and the Riyadh airport. The number of people required to evacuate the Al-Sabaha station was not reported.
For ordinary residents and international travelers, the immediate impact includes the disruption of air travel. Riyadh's airport has remained closed following the Oct. 10 missile strike, which the coalition described as deadly. The Houthi warnings suggest that workers at Saudi Aramco facilities may face threats to their safety. The coalition has not provided a specific timeline for the "precision operation" in Sanaa.
While oil prices eased slightly on Oct. 13 due to hopes for a U.S.-Russia diesel deal, the risk of attacks on Saudi Aramco, a major global supplier, remains a factor for market analysts. The next steps include the coalition's planned operation in Sanaa and any subsequent retaliatory strikes by Houthi forces. No specific dates for future military actions or the reopening of Riyadh airport were confirmed.