Rabat – Yemen’s Houthi rebels and a Saudi Arabia-led coalition exchanged threats on Tuesday, raising fears of further escalation after a series of deadly attacks on Saudi airports and growing military operations in Yemen.
The Saudi-led coalition warned civilians to leave an area around the Yemeni Oil Company and nearby fuel storage facilities in al-Subaha, west of Sanaa, the capital controlled by the Houthis. The warning suggested that the coalition was preparing a possible military strike.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree responded by warning that any Saudi attack on Sanaa would face a “firm and painful” response in Riyadh, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The latest threats follow a series of missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, a strike at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh killed at least 13 people and injured more than 300. Further attacks have added to concerns about the kingdom’s ability to protect its airports and other important facilities.
Saudi authorities have been investigating how their air defenses failed to stop some of the attacks. The strikes have also disrupted air travel, with several airlines suspending services to Saudi Arabia amid security concerns.
The conflict intensified last month after Houthi forces seized strategic areas near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a narrow waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The route is important for international trade and the transport of oil and other goods.
Saudi Arabia is backing forces aligned with Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which are seeking to regain territory held by the Houthis. The coalition has stepped up military operations as fighting spreads across parts of Yemen.
The crisis also risks drawing the United States more directly into the conflict. Washington has provided intelligence and planning support to Saudi-led operations but has not launched direct strikes against the Houthis. The group has warned of retaliation if the United States joins the military campaign.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called on the Houthis to stop their attacks on Saudi Arabia and urged diplomatic efforts to prevent further regional instability, according to AP.
