Saudi-led coalition warns civilians to leave Sanaa oil facility before planned operation; Houthi-linked media later reports strikes west of the capital

Saudi-led coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki urged civilians on Tuesday to evacuate the Yemen Petroleum Company’s Al-Sabaha Central Station in Houthi-controlled Sanaa ahead of a planned precision operation. He posted a map showing the site on the capital’s outskirts and said the warning was for civilians’ safety.

The Associated Press later reported that Houthi-linked broadcaster Al-Masirah and residents said airstrikes had hit areas west of Sanaa. Witnesses reported explosions, but it was not immediately clear which facilities were struck. The broadcaster blamed Saudi Arabia; the coalition had not publicly confirmed carrying out strikes in the report. Yemen’s Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree warned that an attack on Sanaa would draw a “firm and painful” response in Riyadh.

Earlier Tuesday, the coalition said it had intercepted and destroyed three drones north of Riyadh. The Associated Press said it could not independently verify the coalition’s account.

The warning came days after a Houthi missile attack on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300, according to the Associated Press.