A series of airstrikes hit Taiz province in southwestern Yemen on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least 7 people and injuring 40 others. According to media outlets affiliated with the Houthi movement, the airstrikes targeted commercial areas in the central market near Mawiya intersection in the Al-Ta'iziyah district, east of Taiz city. The victims were reportedly civilians.
The Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV channel reported that the airstrikes were carried out by warplanes, but did not provide further details. The channel also accused Saudi Arabia of being responsible for the airstrikes. However, there was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia on the incident.
In contrast, the Yemeni government forces provided a different account of the incident. In a statement published on the social media platform X, the government said that its air force carried out airstrikes that targeted a Houthi military camp and armored vehicles near Mawiya intersection in Taiz.
A military source loyal to the Yemeni government told the Xinhua news agency that the airstrikes hit a site believed to be a Houthi military camp in the area, resulting in the deaths and injuries of dozens of fighters. The source, who requested anonymity, said that the airstrikes occurred while Houthi fighters and reinforcements were gathering at the camp.
The airstrikes come amid an escalation of fighting in Taiz province following recent advances by the Houthi movement along the western coast of Yemen, overlooking the Red Sea. On September 10, the Houthis captured the strategic coastal city of Al-Mukha, and the next day, they seized control of the island of Mayun, also known as Perim, in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The recent clashes in Taiz province are part of a broader conflict that began in July, when the Houthis announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia and started targeting Saudi-linked ships in the Red Sea. Since then, the conflict has expanded to include cross-border military operations, with the Houthis launching ballistic missiles and drones towards Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia intensifying its airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
The conflict in Yemen started in late 2014, when the Houthis seized control of the capital Sana'a and large areas in northern Yemen, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene militarily in March 2015 in support of the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
Key points
- The airstrikes resulted in the deaths of at least 7 people and injured 40 others in Taiz province.
- The incident has escalated tensions in the region, with the Houthis and Saudi Arabia exchanging accusations over responsibility for the airstrikes.
- The conflict in Yemen has been ongoing since 2014, with the Houthis and the Saudi-led coalition engaged in a protracted and complex struggle for control of the country.
