Deadly Saudi Airstrikes Hit Yemen Market, Leaving Seven Dead, Dozens Injured

At least seven people have been killed and dozens injured after an airstrike hit a market area in Yemen, deepening fears of further escalation in the country’s long-running conflict.

The strike reportedly hit shops near the Mawiya junction, with at least five children among those wounded, according to local reports. The casualties and the exact target could not be independently verified.

Yemeni government forces said the operation was aimed at a Houthi military position and vehicles in the area, rejecting claims that the strike deliberately targeted civilians.

The attack comes amid renewed fighting in Yemen, as Houthi forces continue advancing along parts of the Red Sea coastline towards Bab al-Mandab, one of the world’s most important maritime routes.

The Houthis said Saudi Arabia had carried out hundreds of airstrikes in recent days, claiming that 27 strikes were launched across six provinces within a 24-hour period.

The renewed hostilities have further worsened the humanitarian situation in Yemen, where the United Nations says nearly 700 people have been killed and more than 130,000 displaced during the latest escalation.

Saudi Arabia also announced that it intercepted two Houthi drones reportedly heading towards the capital, Riyadh, on Saturday.

The latest violence highlights the fragile security situation in Yemen, where years of conflict between the Saudi-backed government and Houthi forces have created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.

As fighting continues, international concerns are growing over the impact on civilians, regional stability and one of the busiest shipping corridors connecting the Red Sea to global trade routes.