On October 13, 2026, the Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes against the Yemen Petroleum Company's al-Sabaha fuel depot near Sanaa following a rare civilian evacuation warning. The operation follows a Houthi missile attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport that killed 13 people and closed the facility. Houthi leadership vowed retaliatory strikes against Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Dammam as regional economic pressures build, marked by a projected 3.3% contraction in Saudi Arabia's 2026 GDP.
Saudi coalition strikes al-Sabaha depot
- ▪The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen issued an advance evacuation warning on October 13, 2026 urging civilians to leave the al-Sabaha oil facility west of Sanaa ahead of air strikes
- ▪Saudi coalition spokesperson Major General Turki al-Maliki stated the October 13, 2026 strikes hit Yemen Petroleum Company's al-Sabaha depot because Houthi forces used it to fuel missile and drone attacks
- ▪The Saudi-led coalition carried out air strikes on October 13, 2026 targeting the Yemen Petroleum Company's al-Sabaha fuel depot on the outskirts of Houthi-controlled Sanaa
- ▪The Yemen Petroleum Company stated its al-Sabaha storage facilities were empty at the time of the Saudi-led coalition's October 13, 2026 strike and that oil reserves remained sufficient
Saudi air strikes in Yemen
- ▪Saudi coalition air strikes targeted Houthi oil depots at the Ras Isa port in Hodeidah in ten waves of attacks
- ▪Saudi air strikes on October 13, 2026 also targeted Houthi positions in Hodeidah, Saada, and Dhamar provinces
Houthi missile attack on Riyadh airport
- ▪A Houthi missile attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10, 2026 killed 13 people and injured over 300 others
- ▪King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh was ordered closed until October 17, 2026 at the earliest following the October 10 Houthi missile attack that killed 13 people
Saudi aerial defenses
- ▪Saudi coalition air defenses intercepted three Houthi drones north of Riyadh on October 13, 2026
- ▪The Saudi coalition intercepted Houthi ballistic missiles launched toward Haradh and Dhahran on October 13, 2026, with debris falling into a residential area
Houthi leaders warn of further attacks
- ▪Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree warned that Saudi strikes on Sanaa would be met with retaliatory strikes on Saudi Aramco facilities in Riyadh and Dammam
- ▪Houthi spokesman Mohammed Al Bukhaiti warned that Houthi forces would target United States regional interests if the United States joined Saudi military strikes in Yemen
United States posture on Yemen
- ▪United States President Donald Trump stated he was considering joining Saudi military strikes against Houthi forces following the Saturday attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport that killed 13 people
- ▪United States President Donald Trump accused Houthi forces of attempting to drive up global oil prices prior to the November 2026 United States midterm elections
Egyptian diplomatic initiative
- ▪Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty urged prioritizing diplomacy and a political solution to the conflict between Iran and the United States
- ▪Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called on Houthi forces during an October 13, 2026 phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to halt attacks on Saudi Arabia
Houthi offensive on Taiz
- ▪City leaders in Taiz appealed to the Yemeni government for military equipment as Houthi forces advanced toward the city
- ▪Houthi strikes on the Yemeni city of Taiz killed six people and injured 18 on October 12, 2026, according to Yemen's Interior Ministry
Conflict in southern Yemen
- ▪Southern Transitional Council leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi declared a popular mobilization on October 13, 2026 to defend southern Yemen against advancing Houthi forces
- ▪Fighting between Saudi-backed government forces and Houthi rebels intensified after Houthi forces seized key areas along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in September 2026
Humanitarian impact in Yemen
- ▪The United Nations reported that more than 216,000 people have been displaced across Yemen since August 2026
- ▪The World Health Organization reported on October 13, 2026 that suspected cholera cases in Yemen tripled over three weeks, rising from 217 to 647 cases
Regional economic projections
- ▪The International Monetary Fund projected on October 13, 2026 that Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product will contract by 3.3 percent in 2026
- ▪The International Monetary Fund predicted a regional economic decline caused by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz
Debatable claims
- ▪Saudi coalition advance evacuation warnings adequately protect civilians in Sanaa
- ▪Houthi attacks on Saudi targets are driven primarily by US election timing
- ▪Saudi air strikes on Sanaa fuel depots are justified military actions
- ▪Iran bears primary responsibility for Houthi military strikes against Saudi Arabia
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