India, Oct. 14 -- The Saudi-led coalition carried out new airstrikes on oil facilities west of Sanaa, according to Houthi-linked broadcaster Al Masirah and residents of Yemen's Capital.

The strikes marked a fresh escalation in the widening West Asia crisis and came shortly after a coalition spokesman urged residents to evacuate the area for their safety. Witnesses in Sanaa reported hearing explosions. It was not immediately clear which facilities were hit.

In a rare statement, the coalition urged civilians in the Houthi-controlled capital to leave the Yemeni Oil Company site and nearby storage areas ahead of a possible strike. Houthi officials appeared to anticipate an attack on the site. The oil company said its storage facilities were...