Click to see full-size image. (Al Masirah)
At least 20 people were killed and 15 others wounded in a Saudi strike on a crowded market in southwestern Yemen on November 6, in one of the deadliest incidents since fighting escalated earlier this year.
The attack comes amid a sharp increase in Saudi-led airstrikes across Yemen, which have inflicted mounting civilian casualties without reversing the Houthis’ territorial gains.
The strike targeted al-Hadara market in the al-Waziyah district of Taiz province at around 7 a.m., according to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, who said three strikes hit the area.
Meanwhile, Houthi Health Ministry spokesperson Anees Alsabahi reported at least 20 deaths and 15 injuries, warning that the toll could rise.
The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for the attack, saying the deadly strikes were carried out by Saudi-led coalition warplanes.
The massacre follows another deadly episode a day earlier, when seven people were killed and six wounded in two Saudi strikes on a farm in Saada province, according to the Houthi Health Ministry. One of the strikes reportedly occurred as emergency responders arrived at the scene.
The growing civilian toll is reflected in figures compiled by the Yemen Data Project, an independent monitoring group. Saudi airstrikes killed at least 140 civilians and wounded another 286 during October, including 40 children killed and 60 wounded.
October marked the highest monthly civilian casualty toll from Saudi airstrikes since December 2017, with the figures representing a sharp increase from the 66 civilians killed and 90 wounded in September.
The escalating bombing campaign has, however, failed to reverse the battlefield situation. Instead, the Houthis have continued expanding their control across southwestern Yemen, capturing strategic territory along the Red Sea coast and tightening their encirclement of Taiz.
On November 2, Reuters reported that Houthi forces had advanced to within 80 kilometers of Aden, the internationally recognized government’s temporary capital, after capturing the al-Maqatirah district in Lahij province. The advance marked their closest approach to the city since 2015 and threatened a key road connecting Aden with Taiz.
A Saudi-backed government counteroffensive launched in October has also failed to recover the territory lost in the preceding Houthi offensive, prompting a reshuffle of senior political and military officials amid mounting battlefield setbacks.
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