A devastating airstrike hit the Yemeni province of Taiz, with Houthi rebels reporting at least seven fatalities and 40 injuries. The strike targeted a shopping area around the central market of Taiz, according to the Houthi television channel Al-Masirah. Footage showed large plumes of smoke and a destroyed warehouse stacked with food in cardboard boxes. The incident has been attributed to the Saudi Air Force by the Houthi health ministry.
The Houthi health ministry has strongly condemned the airstrike, accusing the Saudi Air Force of committing an "abominable crime" by directly and deliberately targeting civilian sites in Taiz. This incident has further escalated tensions in the region, with the civil war in Yemen intensifying in recent times. The conflict has resulted in significant displacement, with at least 125,000 people affected by the renewed fighting.
The government forces in Yemen, backed by Saudi Arabia, have reported strikes on Houthi fighters and weapons depots in the east and south of the strategically important province of Taiz. They claim their air force struck a Houthi depot and vehicles in the area. The government has called for a general mobilization, urging Yemenis to join the army and security forces to counter the Houthi threat.
The conflict in Yemen has drawn in neighboring countries, with Saudi Arabia facing new attacks from the Iranian-allied Houthis. The Saudi civil defence authority has issued warnings for Khamis Mushait and Abha in the south due to new strikes. In response, Saudi Arabia has highlighted its new alliance with nuclear power Pakistan and Turkey, whose militaries rank among the strongest in the Middle East.
Military chiefs from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey met in Riyadh to discuss the current threat to Saudi Arabia. Their Mecca defence pact contains a mutual defence clause, under which an attack on one party is considered an attack on all. However, neither Pakistan nor Turkey has actively entered the Yemen war so far.
The airstrike on the market in Taiz has raised concerns about the humanitarian situation in Yemen. The country has been embroiled in a civil war for several years, with various factions vying for control. The conflict has resulted in significant human suffering, with many civilians caught in the crossfire.
The international community has been urged to take action to address the crisis in Yemen. The Yemeni leader has called for a general mobilization against the Iran-backed Houthis, and the situation remains volatile. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of the ongoing conflict in Yemen.
Key points
- Seven people were killed and 40 injured in a Saudi airstrike on a market in Yemen's Taiz province.
- The Houthi health ministry has accused the Saudi Air Force of committing an "abominable crime" by targeting civilian sites.
- The conflict in Yemen has resulted in significant displacement, with at least 125,000 people affected by the renewed fighting.
