The key facts

  • The Yemeni army reported taking the village of Al-Nidani, Shaab As-Sarari, most of Sanamat, and Ribat Al-Karn
  • The Ministry of Defense says the missile hit the Al-Hadara market in the Al-Wazia district, with dozens of civilian casualties
  • The exact number of killed and wounded has not been disclosed; the data comes from one side of the conflict

Advance in Taiz and strike on a market

The Yemeni army said on Friday that, during fierce clashes with the Houthis, it had regained control of several areas in the southwestern province of Taiz. According to the military, forces backed by the Popular Resistance took the village of Al-Nidani, Shaab As-Sarari, most of the Sanamat district, as well as Ribat Al-Karn in Dhi al-Barkh. Fighting continued on the Saber front, and government forces, according to the army, established a blockade of the entrances to the As-Sarari district. The army stated that the Houthis suffered heavy losses in personnel and equipment, while government forces are consolidating on the positions they have taken and clearing the area of mines. Anadolu reported this.

Civilian casualties

Separately, Yemen's Ministry of Defense stated that the Houthis on Friday launched a ballistic missile at the popular Al-Hadara market in the Al-Wazia district of Taiz province. According to the ministry, the attack killed and wounded dozens of civilians, but the exact number of casualties was not given. All of the information cited comes from the government side of the conflict; the Houthis' position is not presented in the report, and there is no independent confirmation of these figures in the report.

Context of the conflict

Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since 2014, when the Houthis seized the country's capital, Sanaa, and other territories. In March 2015, a Saudi Arabia–led coalition intervened in support of the internationally recognized government of Yemen, leading to years of fighting and a severe humanitarian crisis.