Clashes over market strike leave at least 20 dead in Yemen
Houthis blame Saudi warplanes for the Friday attacks in Taiz province, while government allies accuse rebels of firing missiles.
By Yasmin Nasser ·
At least 20 people died when airstrikes hit a market in southwestern Yemen on Friday, according to the Houthi rebel group. The group blamed Saudi Arabia for the strikes, which marked one of the deadliest incidents since fighting resumed between the rebels and Saudi-backed government forces.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said three bombs struck the al-Hadara market in al-Waziyah, Taiz province, at approximately 7 a.m. He stated that warplanes took off from the Khamis Mushait air base and departed the area by 8 a.m. Saree did not provide evidence to support the claim that Saudi aircraft carried out the strikes.
Anees Alsabahi, a spokesperson for the Houthi health ministry, told Al Masirah television that 15 people were wounded and the death toll was expected to rise. Footage from the channel showed smoke rising from the site, along with a damaged building holding canned food, destroyed vehicles, and scattered fruit boxes.
The Yemeni government authorities in Taiz rejected the Houthi account. They stated that no airstrikes occurred in the area and blamed the rebels for the attack. The provincial media office acknowledged the strike in a Facebook post, confirming that casualties occurred but withholding specific numbers. The office accused the Houthis of using ballistic missiles in what it described as indiscriminate attacks on populated areas.
Friday is a traditional day off in much of the Arab world, which typically sees high foot traffic at local markets. The Taiz city government is aligned with the Saudi-backed national government, while the surrounding hills remain under Houthi control. The rebels have recently tightened their grip on the region following a rapid capture of the port city of Mokha earlier in September.
Tensions escalated last month when Houthi ballistic missiles struck a military camp in the southern province of Shabwa, killing at least 75 soldiers and wounding around 200 recruits. The Houthis also accused Saudi Arabia in September of hitting a prison in the northern city of Hazm, an event that killed at least 23 people. Analysts note that controlling Taiz is essential for the Houthis if they plan to advance south toward Aden and Lahj.
Saudi Arabia's information ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the Friday strikes. The Associated Press was unable to independently verify which side fired the weapons or the exact casualty count.
