Fatal airstrikes hit market in Yemen's Taiz province

At least 20 to 30 people were killed and several others wounded on Friday, November 6, following airstrikes on a market in the Al Wazi'iyah district of Taiz province, Yemen. Anis al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the Houthi-led health ministry, reported the casualties, noting that the death toll remains provisional. While the Houthi movement has blamed Saudi Arabian aviation for the attack, local authorities associated with the internationally recognized Yemeni government have deflected these claims and instead attributed the strike to the Houthi forces themselves.

The incident occurs amidst a long-standing conflict in the region, where the Houthi rebels control the majority of Taiz province. The area has been a focal point of hostilities for years, characterized by a persistent siege on the provincial capital by Houthi fighters. This event is cited as one of the deadliest strikes since the recent escalation of hostilities between the Saudi-backed Yemeni military and the Iran-supported Houthi movement.

Investigations into the exact nature and origin of the strikes are ongoing, although both sides remain locked in a cycle of mutual accusations regarding responsibility for the civilian casualties.