Missiles Intercepted Near Riyadh Following Saudi Coalition Strike on Yemen Fuel Depot

Missiles and drones were intercepted over Riyadh after the Saudi-led coalition struck a fuel depot near the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa, according to coalition spokesperson Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki. No casualties have been reported, but fires broke out at Saudi oil company Aramco's building in Dhahran following the strike. The coalition targeted the Yemen Petroleum Company's al-Sabaha facility on Tuesday night. The chief of the International Monetary Fund stated that the recent attacks in the conflict could have negative consequences for all parties involved. The Houthis have warned they would target the airport and Aramco refinery in Riyadh, as well as Aramco's headquarters in Dammam. The Saudi cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, stated that the Iran-backed group would face consequences for its recent attacks on the kingdom, which included a missile strike that killed 13 people at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday. Another person was killed in a similar attack the following day. On Tuesday, the coalition reported the destruction of three drones north of Riyadh. The Houthis claim their missile and drone attacks are in retaliation for Saudi strikes on their territory in western Yemen, including Sanaa. The Saudi-led coalition has been providing air support for Yemeni pro-government forces in their offensive along Yemen's Red Sea coast and other fronts. Following the coalition's warning of an impending operation against the al-Sabaha oil facility, queues formed at petrol stations in Sanaa as residents expressed concerns about fuel shortages. The Yemen Petroleum Company reassured residents that the facility did not contain any stock of petroleum products and had taken precautionary measures to maintain supply stability. After the strike was confirmed, explosions were reported over Riyadh and other Saudi cities, with al-Maliki stating that four missiles and two drones were intercepted near the capital. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, when the Houthis ousted the internationally recognized government from Sanaa. The conflict escalated in 2015 with the intervention of the Saudi-led coalition. A ceasefire began to unravel in July, when the Houthis announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia and began attacks on Saudi airports and oil facilities. The Houthis stated their actions were in retaliation for a Saudi blockade of their territory and an airstrike on Sanaa airport. The conflict intensified in September when the Houthis seized territory near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical shipping chokepoint. US President Donald Trump commented that the Houthis were attempting to drive up oil prices, but did not confirm any plans to assist Saudi Arabia in retaliation. Pro-government forces recently regained control of territory overlooking Bab al-Mandab after a counter-offensive supported by Saudi airstrikes. The UN reports that hundreds have been killed in Yemen since August, including at least 54 civilians, and over 216,000 people have been displaced. Suspected cholera cases have also tripled in three weeks, according to the UN.