Yemen conflict: Market strike in Taiz kills 20, Houthis claim
Saudi Arabia denies conducting airstrikes as both sides blame each other for the deadly incident at the al-Hadara market.
By Vincent Parker ·
Fighting has intensified in southwestern Yemen, where two rival factions are exchanging blame for a deadly strike on a crowded market. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced on Friday that airstrikes hit a market in the Taiz province, resulting in at least 20 deaths.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that three airstrikes struck the al-Hadara market in al-Waziyah at approximately 7:00 a.m. He attributed the attacks to Saudi Arabia, claiming warplanes launched from the Khamis Mushait air base and departed the area around 8:00 a.m. Saree did not provide physical evidence to support the timeline or the origin of the aircraft.
Anees Alsabahi, a spokesperson for the Houthi health ministry, reported that at least 20 people were killed and 15 others were wounded. Speaking to Houthi-run television channel Al Masirah, Alsabahi indicated that the death toll is expected to increase. Footage broadcast by the network showed smoke rising from the site, along with destroyed vehicles, scattered fruit boxes, and rubble near a damaged building that stored canned food.
Authorities affiliated with the Saudi-backed Yemeni government in Taiz rejected the Houthi account. They stated that no airstrikes were carried out in the area and blamed the Houthis for the attack. The provincial media office confirmed in a Facebook post that an attack occurred on the busy market and that casualties resulted, but it did not specify the number of victims. The office described the incident as part of indiscriminate Houthi missile attacks, including the use of ballistic missiles, that endanger civilian lives.
The market was likely crowded because Friday is a weekly day off in much of the Arab world. It remained unclear exactly how many people were present when the strike occurred. The Association Press was unable to independently verify the claims made by either side. Saudi Arabia’s information ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.
The Taiz city, which is controlled by the internationally recognized government, is currently besieged by Houthi forces. In September, the Houthis captured the port city of Mokha, a strategic location about 130 kilometers from Taiz that influences shipping through the Red Sea. Since then, the rebels have tightened their encirclement of Taiz, restricting the movement of people and supplies into the city. Residents have reported difficulties securing drinking water and food as the humanitarian situation worsens.
Recent escalations include a Houthi ballistic missile strike last month that killed at least 75 soldiers and wounded around 200 recruits at a military camp in the Shabwa province. In September, the Houthis also accused Saudi Arabia of striking a prison in the Jawf provincial capital, Hazm, which collapsed and killed at least 23 people.
