A Houthi missile strike near Yemen's Taiz killed several civilians as clashes between Iran-aligned Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed government forces intensified along the western coast, leaving more than 60 people dead in some of the deadliest fighting in years.
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Key facts
- At least four civilians were killed in a Houthi missile strike near Taiz, according to Al Jazeera.
- The Guardian reported a missile strike killed six civilians and injured seven others travelling by bus in Taiz.
- More than 60 people were killed overall as ground fighting escalated, according to The Guardian.
- Sources told AFP that 26 government troops and 31 Houthi fighters died in several hours of fighting on Saturday.
- The violence has driven rapid civilian displacement across Taiz and Hodeidah.
At least four civilians were killed in a Houthi missile strike on a crowded road near Yemen’s Taiz, according to Al Jazeera. The attack came amid fierce clashes across Taiz and Hodeidah and rapid civilian displacement, the outlet reported.
The Guardian reported that a missile strike killed six civilians and injured seven others travelling by bus in the city of Taiz. The strike was part of a broader escalation in fighting between Yemen’s Saudi-backed government forces and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebel movement.
According to The Guardian, clashes killed more than 60 people, including civilians, as the Houthis pushed forward with a military offensive on Yemen’s western coast. The paper described the violence as some of the deadliest clashes in years.
Medical and military sources told Agence France-Presse that 26 government troops and 31 Houthi fighters were killed during several hours of fighting in the country’s south-west on Saturday, The Guardian reported.
Al Jazeera noted that the fighting has forced civilians to flee rapidly from affected zones across Taiz and Hodeidah.
The reports from Al Jazeera and The Guardian differ slightly on the civilian toll from the Taiz strike, with Al Jazeera citing at least four killed and The Guardian citing six killed and seven injured aboard a bus.
Why it matters
The escalation marks some of the deadliest fighting in Yemen in years and puts civilians directly in the line of fire, with strikes hitting crowded roads and public transport. Rapid displacement across Taiz and Hodeidah signals a worsening humanitarian situation in a country already scarred by prolonged conflict.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were killed in the Yemen fighting?
According to The Guardian, more than 60 people were killed overall, including 26 government troops, 31 Houthi fighters, and civilians. The civilian toll from the Taiz missile strike was reported as at least four by Al Jazeera and six by The Guardian.
Who is fighting in Yemen?
The clashes are between Yemen's Saudi-backed government forces and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebel movement, according to The Guardian, with the Houthis pushing an offensive along the western coast.
Where did the missile strike happen?
The missile strike hit near the city of Taiz. The Guardian reported it struck civilians travelling by bus, while Al Jazeera said the attack was on a crowded road.
Timeline
- Civilians among at least 60 killed in Yemen as ground fighting escalates
The Guardian World: Houthi rebel offensive against government forces on west coast leads to some of deadliest clashes in years Clashes between Yemen’s Saudi-backed government forces and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebel movement killed more than 60 people, including civilians, as the Houthis pushed forw
- At least four civilians killed in Houthi missile strike near Yemen’s Taiz
Al Jazeera: The attack on a crowded road comes amid fierce clashes across Taiz and Hodeidah and rapid civilian displacement.