Coalition Launches Precision Strike Against Houthis in Sanaa

Amid escalating provocations and blatant attacks by the Houthi militia on Saudi civilian infrastructure, including airports and energy facilities, the Riyadh-led coalition supporting legitimacy launched a precision strike yesterday targeting the Yemeni Oil Company and the Al-Sabahah Central Station in Sanaa.

Earlier, Al-Maliki announced the interception and destruction of three drones targeting Riyadh, hours after Saudi air defenses destroyed three ballistic missiles launched by the Iran-backed militia toward the capital and the city of Khamis Mushait.

In response, the militia, designated as terrorist by many countries worldwide, threatened retaliation, pledging to target King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the Aramco headquarters in Dammam, and the Riyadh refinery owned by Aramco.

Meanwhile, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a series of calls from international leaders, including US President Donald Trump, who reiterated for the second time that "the Houthis are behaving very badly, and this is unacceptable," adding that he "might" ask Turkey to intervene against them in Yemen. Trump stated, "I believe President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will respond to my request."

Bin Salman also received a call from Erdoğan, who affirmed that Turkey would continue to stand by the Kingdom, expressing confidence that it would overcome this crisis.

For his part, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed the urgent need to end the "naval blockade imposed by Iran and the Houthis on the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab immediately," calling on Iran to engage in serious negotiations and stop destabilizing the Middle East.

The Saudi Crown Prince also received expressions of support from Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, following a similar call from Jordanian King Abdullah II.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty confirmed that Egypt is ready to provide "all forms of support and respond to any requests from the Kingdom without any reservations," telling Bloomberg that Cairo is seriously considering the Mecca Agreement for Joint Defense with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey.

In a call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, Abdelatty emphasized the "necessity of an immediate halt to all attacks targeting Saudi Arabia," stressing that "there is no justification for these attacks and they cannot be accepted."

On the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund meetings in Bangkok, Abdelatty told GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al-Buaidi that Egypt attaches utmost importance to the security and stability of GCC member states, considering their security an integral part of Egypt's national security.

As part of the consultations, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, reaffirming full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support in all measures aimed at safeguarding its security.

This came as UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed discussed developments with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, while the UAE's special envoy to Beijing, Khaldoun Al-Mubarak, met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the Chinese capital.

During the meeting, Wang Yi expressed that Beijing understands the legitimate security concerns of Gulf states and supports preserving their sovereignty, security, rights, and legitimate interests, noting that imposing a blockade on the "Strait of Hormuz" contradicts the shared interests of the international community.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Cabinet, after its meeting chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, affirmed that it would not allow threats to the Kingdom's security, stressing that the terrorist Houthi militia would face the consequences of its crimes and heinous attacks.

The Cabinet praised the decisive role of the armed forces in defending Saudi Arabia, expressing appreciation for the positions of countries and organizations condemning the crimes of the rebellious coup faction.