Coalition: Strategic Operation in Sanaa to Neutralize Fuel Sources Powering Houthi Missiles and Drones Threatening the Kingdom and Its Airports

The Coalition Supporting Legitimacy in Yemen announced on Tuesday the execution of a strategic military operation aimed at neutralizing vital sources fueling the war effort of the terrorist Houthi militia, primarily targeting the central fuel station in Sanaa. The coalition confirmed that the militia used these sites to support their arsenal of missiles and drones, which pose a threat to Saudi Arabia and endanger the safety of airports, ports, and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

In a press statement from the joint forces, the coalition demanded the Houthis to "immediately cease all terrorist operations targeting civilians and civilian objects, including airports, ports, oil facilities, and infrastructure."

The operation follows hours after the Cabinet affirmed that the militia "will face consequences for its repeated criminal acts and attacks" on the Kingdom's airports, Mecca, Medina, and civilian and economic facilities, and days after the coalition pledged to respond "firmly" to the attack targeting King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

Fuel for Missiles and Drones

Brigadier General Turki Al-Maliki, the official spokesperson for the coalition forces, explained that it was confirmed to the joint forces' leadership that the militia is using civilian sites and vital resources to fuel its war effort, including the central fuel station in Sanaa, underground fuel storage, and fuel tanks and piers designated for fuel transport and unloading in Hodeidah, Sanaa, and Dhamar.

He clarified that the militia uses these sites to directly support its terrorist military operations, depriving the Yemeni people of resources that should be legitimately allocated to meet their needs.

He pointed out that fueling the missile and drone arsenal from these sites "significantly contributed" to executing hostile attacks against civilians and civilian objects and planning imminent attacks against civilian objects in the Kingdom and commercial ships in international waterways. He noted that the operation focused on neutralizing the militia's capabilities used to threaten the Kingdom, Yemen, and the southern Red Sea and waterways.

Advance Warning and Civilian Protection

Al-Maliki emphasized the coalition forces' strict adherence to international humanitarian law, confirming that they took all possible precautions to avoid causing incidental harm or damage to civilians during the planning and execution of the operation.

The joint forces' leadership had issued a warning before the execution, requesting civilians to evacuate the "Yemeni Oil Company site / central fuel station in Sanaa" for their safety, accompanied by a map of the site, following a previous announcement that the warning would be issued "shortly" in preparation for executing a "strategic operation."