Twenty dead in Yemen market strike as sides blame each other
Houthis and Saudi-backed forces dispute who hit the al-Hadara market in Taiz, leaving at least 20 killed and 15 wounded.
By Jasmine Carter ·
At least 20 people were killed and 15 others wounded when airstrikes hit a market in southwestern Yemen on Friday, according to Houthi officials. The attack occurred in the al-Waziyah district of Taiz province, where the Iran-backed rebels control surrounding areas but face opposition from Saudi-backed government forces.
Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, stated that three airstrikes struck the al-Hadara market at approximately 7 a.m. local time. He attributed the strikes to Saudi Arabia, claiming warplanes launched from the Khamis Mushait air base and departed the region by 8 a.m. Saree did not release evidence to support these claims, and Saudi Arabia's information ministry had not responded to requests for comment as of Friday.
Anees Alsabahi, a spokesperson for the Houthi health ministry, provided the casualty figures to Al Masirah television. He indicated that the death toll was expected to increase as rescue efforts continued. Footage broadcast by the channel showed smoke rising from the site, with visible damage to a building stocked with canned food, destroyed vehicles, and scattered fruit boxes.
The Yemeni government authorities in Taiz disputed the Houthi account. They stated that no airstrikes were conducted in the area and instead blamed the Houthis for the attack. The provincial media office acknowledged in a Facebook post that the busy market had been hit and that casualties were confirmed, though they offered no specific numbers. They described the incident as part of "indiscriminate Houthi missile attacks" that used ballistic missiles to endanger civilians.
Friday is a common day off across much of the Arab world, typically resulting in high foot traffic at local markets. The AP was unable to independently verify either side's claims regarding the source of the strikes or the exact number of people present at the time of the explosion.
This incident marks one of the deadliest attacks since fighting resumed between the two factions. Tensions have escalated following the Houthi capture of the port city of Mokha in September, a strategic location about 130 kilometers from Taiz. The rebels have since tightened their encirclement of Taiz city, restricting the flow of drinking water and food supplies to residents.
The conflict has also seen heavy losses for government troops. Last month, Houthi ballistic missiles struck a military camp in the southern province of Shabwa, killing at least 75 soldiers and wounding around 200 recruits. In September, a coalition strike collapsed a prison in Jawf province, killing at least 23 people, an event the Houthis also attributed to Saudi forces.
