Saudi airstrikes targeting the southwestern Yemeni city of Taiz, an area contested between government forces and Houthi rebels, have resulted in dozens of casualties, according to statements from the Houthi movement. The strikes mark a significant escalation in hostilities following the collapse of a recent truce.

Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Iran-backed Houthi group, confirmed that Saudi Arabia carried out two air raids hitting a market on the outskirts of Taiz. Saree reported that nearly 50 people were killed or injured but did not provide a detailed breakdown between fatalities and injuries. The spokesman condemned the attacks, describing the bloodshed as “unjustly and aggressively spilt” and warned of repercussions.

Houthi-linked Al-Masirah TV initially reported seven deaths and 40 injuries from the market strike, updating the toll later to include at least five children among the wounded. Subsequent reports from Houthi sources indicated that close to 30 fighters affiliated with the group were killed in a series of airstrikes, alongside eight civilian fatalities. Footage broadcast by Al-Masirah showed significant damage to vehicles and warehouses in the area, with goods covered in dust, underscoring the severity of the strikes.

Taiz remains a key battleground in Yemen’s protracted civil war. Though controlled by government forces, it has been under siege by the Houthi rebels for several years. The conflict, which entered a period of renewed intensity in July, has been further exacerbated by regional tensions and the wider Middle East conflict.

Recent weeks have witnessed a surge in Houthi military activity, including a rapid advance resulting in full control over Yemen’s Red Sea coastline and the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, an essential maritime route. The group has also imposed a blockade on Saudi energy shipments, coinciding with Iran’s closure of the nearby Strait of Hormuz, further heightening regional tensions.

In response to the escalating violence, Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday the interception of two Houthi drones aimed at Riyadh, the kingdom’s capital. Following the drone attacks, schools in Riyadh moved to remote learning for a week as a precautionary measure.

Yemen continues to battle one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, compounded by ongoing conflict and widespread economic hardship. The recent airstrikes and renewed fighting threaten to deepen the instability in the region and exacerbate the already dire conditions for the country’s population.