Yemeni government spokesperson Omar Al-Bukhaiti has condemned a Saudi attack on an oil company facility in the Al-Subaha area west of the capital, Sanaa, denouncing it as a “clear war crime” and vowing a “harsh and painful response” to the assault.

In a statement carried by the Yemen News Agency (Saba), Al-Bukhaiti said the US-backed Saudi enemy committed "a grave act of folly by targeting civilian facilities and infrastructure in the capital, Sanaa," emphasizing that such aggression would not go unanswered.

The government spokesperson reassured the Yemeni people that authorities had taken all necessary measures to confront the attack and maintain stability.

He confirmed that the targeted facility was empty at the time of the strike and that the supply of petroleum products remains stable and sufficient to meet citizens' needs for an extended period, urging the public to disregard false rumors regarding fuel shortages.

The strike came shortly after the Saudi-led coalition issued a warning ordering civilians to evacuate the Al-Subaha area, which houses a station belonging to the Yemen Petroleum Company (YPC) and nearby storage areas.

The Yemen Petroleum Company swiftly moved to reassure the public, stating that the Al-Subaha facilities contained no stock of petroleum products at the time of the attack and that the strike would not affect fuel stock or supply chains.

The company confirmed that supplies for consumption are "available in safe facilities and locations, and in sufficient quantities" to meet demand for extended periods.

Yemen's prior warning

The attack comes despite prior warnings from the Yemeni Armed Forces that any strike on Sanaa would trigger direct retaliation against the Saudi capital.

Earlier on Tuesday, after the Saudi coalition announced its evacuation warning and threatened a "special operation" in Sanaa, Yemeni military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree issued a definitive red line: "The Yemeni armed forces warn the Saudi enemy that any attacks on the capital, Sana'a, will be met with a harsh and painful response in the Saudi enemy's capital, Riyadh."

Saree also declared all Saudi Aramco oil facilities "legitimate targets," issuing urgent directives for employees, engineers, experts, and citizens near any Aramco installation to evacuate immediately.

He further warned airlines, airports, travelers, and employees operating in previously designated target areas to stay away.

Since 2015, the US-backed Saudi-led coalition has subjected Yemen to a brutal military aggression and a comprehensive land, air, and sea siege, triggering one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

In response, the Yemeni Armed Forces have developed advanced domestic drone and missile capabilities, repeatedly striking deep into Saudi territory—including critical Aramco installations—to force the lifting of the siege.

The war on Yemen intensified last month after Yemeni forces seized key areas along the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway for the transport of Persian Gulf oil and other goods at the southern end of the Red Sea.