At least 30 people were killed and eight others wounded in airstrikes on a busy market in southwestern Yemen on Friday, according to health officials affiliated with Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The attack marks one of the deadliest incidents since fighting resumed between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces.
Houthi Health Ministry spokesperson Anees Alsabahi stated that the strikes hit the al-Hadara market in the al-Waziyah district of Taiz province around 7:00 AM on Friday a peak shopping day across the region. Footage aired by Houthi-run Al-Masirah television showed destroyed vehicles, damaged food stalls and rubble scattered across the site.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree blamed Saudi Arabia for launching three airstrikes from the Khamis Mushait air base though he provided no direct evidence. Saudi Arabia’s information ministry did not immediately comment on the allegations.
Conversely the Yemeni government authorities in Taiz denied executing any airstrikes in the area, attributing the casualties to "indiscriminate Houthi missile attacks." Independent verification of the conflicting claims remains unavailable.
The strategic province of Taiz remains a major flashpoint. Houthi forces have tightened their siege around the government-controlled provincial capital also severely restricting access to food and clean water for local residents as fighting intensifies across the surrounding hills.
