The strikes — one near the capital Sanaa and one at a market in Taiz province — have killed dozens of people and wounded dozens more, according to Houthi-run outlets, deepening a war that has restarted after years of dormancy and displaced more than 300,000 people, the United Nations says.
Media linked to the Houthi movement said Saudi warplanes struck al-Shariyah village in Bani Hashish district, east of Sanaa, on Saturday, killing at least 33 people, including women and children, and injuring 39, the BBC reported. Saba news agency, which is run by the Houthis, put the dead at 33 — eight women, 13 children and 12 men — with 39 injured, including 10 women, 13 children and 16 men. China Daily, citing Houthi-run Al Masirah TV, gave a lower figure of at least 27 killed and more than 36 wounded in airstrikes near Sanaa, saying the strikes destroyed about six houses.
Hours earlier, a strike hit the al-Hadara market in al-Waziyah district of Taiz province, killing at least 30 people, according to the Houthis, Al Jazeera and the Associated Press reported. Yemen’s government forces accused the Houthis of firing ballistic missiles at the market, while the Houthis accused Saudi Arabia of launching three airstrikes there. The AP said another eight people were wounded in the market attack and that neither side’s claims could be independently verified.
Yemeni forces deny coalition involvement in strikes
The Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognised government has not commented on either strike. Saudi Arabia’s information ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment, the AP reported, and Al Jazeera said there had been no response from the coalition forces.
Colonel Majed al-Nazili, a spokesperson for the Yemeni government forces, told Al Jazeera that the Houthis struck the Taiz market with ballistic missiles, causing dozens of civilian casualties, and accused the Iran-backed group of committing a “war crime.” Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree told the AP that three airstrikes hit the market at around 7 a.m. and blamed Saudi Arabia, claiming warplanes took off from the Khamis Mushait air base. He did not provide evidence.
Hours before the al-Shariyah strike, the Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a missile heading toward Riyadh, the BBC and China Daily reported.
Why the War Is Back
The strikes come as major fighting has resumed between the Houthis and government forces supported by the Saudi-led coalition after a truce that had held for several years began to fall apart. The BBC reported that Saudi Arabia struck Sanaa’s Houthi-controlled airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing there; the Tehran-backed Houthis then targeted Abha airport in Saudi Arabia and began hitting Saudi ships using the Red Sea as an alternative oil export route.
According to the BBC, the United Nations says more than 1,600 people have been killed and more than 300,000 displaced since fighting resumed. Yemen’s internationally recognised government launched Operation Dawn of Yemen on October 5 to retake territory held by the Houthis, Al Jazeera reported, and government forces said they recaptured several areas in Taiz governorate on Friday. An ongoing Houthi siege of the government-held city of Taiz has lasted 30 days, Al Jazeera reported, and the UN has warned of a catastrophe there as food and medicine grow scarce.
The Houthis Vow Revenge
A Houthi leader, Mahdi al-Mashat, has vowed the group will take revenge for the latest attacks in Yemen, the BBC reported. Al Jazeera reported that the Houthis have been launching missiles and drones into Saudi Arabia every day, striking oil facilities and disrupting air traffic.
Questions Readers Are Asking
Who is responsible for the Taiz market attack?
The two sides blame each other. Government spokesperson Colonel Majed al-Nazili told Al Jazeera the Houthis fired ballistic missiles at the market, while Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree told the AP that Saudi warplanes carried out three airstrikes on the site. Neither claim has been independently verified.
How many people have died since fighting resumed?
The BBC cited the United Nations as saying more than 1,600 people have been killed and more than 300,000 displaced since major fighting resumed.
What triggered the latest escalation?
The BBC reported that the truce began to collapse when Saudi Arabia struck Sanaa’s airport, which the Houthis control, to prevent an Iranian plane from landing; the Houthis then targeted Abha airport in Saudi Arabia and Saudi shipping in the Red Sea.
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