Saudi-Led Coalition Warns Civilians in Sanaa to Evacuate Ahead of ‘Special Operation’

The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen on Tuesday warned civilians in Houthi-controlled Sanaa to prepare to evacuate a site ahead of a planned “special operation”. Coalition spokesperson Turki Al-Maliki said on social media platform X that an evacuation warning would be issued shortly, but did not disclose the location or details of the operation.

Separately, the coalition said its forces had intercepted and destroyed three drones north of Riyadh, according to Xinhua News Agency.

The developments follow a fresh escalation on Monday, when Yemen’s Houthi group claimed it had launched a ballistic missile at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and a drone attack on King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree claimed the missile accurately hit its target and the drone scored a direct hit.

The Saudi-led coalition, however, said it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi ballistic missile fired towards Riyadh on Monday evening. Explosions were heard in the Saudi capital around the time of the reported attack, and residents received alerts through mobile applications.

The escalation has raised regional and international concerns. Iran has reiterated its readiness to facilitate dialogue between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had repeatedly offered its good offices to help bring the parties to the negotiating table.

On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi conveyed Tehran’s readiness to provide assistance in initiating dialogue during a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud.