Saudi strikes in Taiz killed dozens, Houthis say

Saudi strikes in Taiz killed nearly 30 Houthi fighters and eight civilians, multiple Houthi sources told AFP on Sunday, as fighting in Yemen escalated after a truce broke down.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree accused Saudi Arabia of launching two air raids that hit a market on the outskirts of the city. He said nearly 50 people were killed or wounded, without giving an exact breakdown, and vowed consequences.

Earlier, the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV channel said a strike killed seven people and wounded 40 at a market in Taiz, minutes after reporting that a Saudi fighter jet had targeted the area. The channel later cited the Houthis' health ministry as saying five children were among the wounded.

Taiz city is controlled by government forces but has long been besieged by Houthi fighters and remains one of the main fronts in Yemen's civil war.

Yemen's war reignited in July after several years of relative calm. Fighting intensified in September as the Houthis seized Yemen's Red Sea coast, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The group has also launched a blockade on Saudi energy exports.

Saudi Arabia said Saturday that it intercepted two Houthi drones heading towards Riyadh. Schools in Riyadh told parents Sunday they would shift to remote learning for a week, without giving a reason.