A Saudi airstrike on Taiz in southwest Yemen killed seven people and wounded 40 in a central marketplace, Houthi media reported on Sunday. The Iran-backed Houthis' Al-Masirah TV channel said the strike occurred minutes after a Saudi fighter jet targeted the area. The airstrike is the latest escalation in Yemen's war, which reignited in July and intensified in September.
Yemen's war has been ongoing since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa from the Saudi-backed government. The conflict has seen the Houthis take control of vast swathes of the country's north. Despite Saudi backing, Yemen's government forces have been unable to repel the latest Houthi offensive, which saw the rebels seize Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital shipping lane.
The Houthis have also launched a blockade on Saudi energy exports, already choked off by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted two Houthi drones that were heading in the direction of the capital Riyadh. The incident highlights the widening conflict in the Middle East and the increasing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.
Taiz, a major city controlled by the internationally recognised government, has been thrust to the frontlines of fighting between the Houthis and government forces. The city has seen intense fighting in recent days, with Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree reporting on Saturday that Saudi air forces launched 27 strikes targeting Taiz, Marib, Saada, Amran, Ibb and Hajjah provinces.
The conflict has also had an impact on civilians, with schools in Riyadh announcing on Sunday that they would be shifting to remote learning for a week, without giving a reason. The move comes as tensions escalate in the region and fears of further attacks grow. The Houthi offensive has also led to a worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
The Saudi airstrike on Taiz is the latest in a series of escalations in the conflict. The war has seen thousands of civilians killed and displaced, with many more facing food and medicine shortages. The international community has called for a ceasefire and a return to peace talks, but so far, a lasting solution has not been found.
The conflict in Yemen has also had wider regional implications, with Iran and Saudi Arabia drawing closer to a wider conflict. The US has also been drawn into the conflict, with President Joe Biden facing pressure to take a stronger stance against Iran. The situation remains volatile, with fears of further escalation and worsening humanitarian crisis.
Key points
- Seven people were killed and 40 wounded in a Saudi airstrike on Taiz in southwest Yemen.
- The conflict in Yemen has seen thousands of civilians killed and displaced, with many more facing food and medicine shortages.
- The situation remains volatile, with fears of further escalation and worsening humanitarian crisis.
