Coalition orders evacuation of Sanaa fuel site; Houthi media report a strike there

The Saudi-led coalition on Tuesday 13 October 2026 called on civilians to evacuate a fuel facility in Houthi-controlled Sanaa ahead of a planned military operation. Coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki posted the order on X. It covered the Yemen Petroleum Company's al-Sabaha central station, on the western outskirts of the city. Al-Maliki had first announced that an alert would be issued.

"The Joint Forces Command of the Coalition requests that civilians evacuate the site of the Yemen Petroleum Company, the al-Sabaha Central Station in Sanaa ... for their own safety," Daily Sabah quoted him as writing.

Correspondents in Sanaa reported hearing explosions shortly afterwards. Houthi-affiliated media reported that an oil facility in al-Sabaha was struck. According to France 24, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV said: "Saudi aggression targets the oil company in Al-Sabaha, west of Sanaa." The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include any Saudi or coalition confirmation of the strike. They do not describe casualties or damage at the site.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree then posted a warning on X. "The Yemeni Armed Forces warn all employees and citizens near any facility belonging to Aramco oil to evacuate it and move away from it, as it is a legitimate target for our forces," Daily Sabah quoted him as writing. The Houthis also threatened Riyadh's international airport.

A Houthi attack on Riyadh's airport on Saturday 10 October killed at least 13 people. According to Al Jazeera, more than 300 people were injured. The coalition said it intercepted three drones north of Riyadh on Tuesday.

According to France 24, this was the coalition's first evacuation order for Sanaa since fighting flared up again in July. Al Jazeera correspondent Yousef Mawry said Saudi Arabia also struck oil sites at Ras Isa port and in Hodeidah province. The Houthi-run health ministry said two people were killed in Hodeidah. These accounts have not been independently verified in the reports reviewed.

What is disputed

France 24 and The Hindu report that Houthi media blamed Saudi Arabia. Al Jazeera reports that Houthi-affiliated media blamed Saudi-backed forces. Outlets also name the site differently.

What each side says

• Saudi-led coalition: civilians should leave the station ahead of a precision operation.
• Saudi cabinet: the Houthis will face "consequences", according to the Saudi Press Agency, as cited by Al Jazeera.
• Houthis: Aramco sites are a legitimate target, and any strike on Sanaa will bring a painful response.
• Yemen Petroleum Company: the site holds no fuel stock, so supply will not be affected, The Hindu reported.
• US President Donald Trump told reporters the Houthis were "behaving very badly", according to France 24.

Analysis

The coalition's public warning before an operation in Sanaa marks a visible change in how it is conducting the campaign, according to France 24's account. Whether a strike occurred, and who carried it out, still rests on Houthi media and correspondents' reports of explosions. The Houthi threats against Aramco sites and Riyadh's airport raise the risk of further attacks on civilian infrastructure on both sides. Airline suspensions and travel advice already point to wider economic effects. De-escalation or further retaliation both remain possible. Much depends on whether either side acts on its stated warnings.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.