Seven people died and 40 others sustained injuries in a Saudi airstrike targeting a market in central Taiz, according to Houthi-affiliated media reports on Sunday. Meanwhile, the internationally recognized Yemeni government reported 756 targeted military operations over a 72-hour period, marking an escalation in hostilities across multiple frontlines.
Airstrikes Hit Taiz Market Amid Rising Casualties
The reported strike on the Taiz market left dozens of casualties, with Houthi media channel Al-Masirah stating that a Saudi fighter jet carried out the attack. The Saudi side did not issue an immediate comment regarding the incident or the reported death toll. Three military sources within the government told Reuters that Houthi fighters had recently established a military camp near the targeted market.
Government officials offered a different account of operations in the area. Deputy Information Minister Fayyad Al-Noman stated via social media that the armed forces’ air force launched heavy airstrikes targeting a newly established reception camp for Houthi forces in the Al-Houban area east of Taiz. Al-Noman added that the strikes hit ballistic missile storage, military vehicles, and several Houthi leaders, including Nour Al-Din Al-Marani, who claims the role of Taiz deputy governor for security and defense affairs.
Government Forces Report Widespread Operations and Iranian Experts Killed
Colonel Staff Major Majid Abdullah Al-Nuaili, official spokesperson for the internationally recognized government’s armed forces, announced that military units conducted 756 targeted operations over 72 hours. According to Al-Nuaili, these strikes utilized air power, drones, snipers, field artillery, and rocket launchers across the fronts of Ketaf and Al-Baqaa, Al-Alb axis, Al-Jawf, Marib, Al-Bayda, Lahij, and Taiz.
The military spokesperson stated that the operations neutralized 2,316 Houthi fighters—counting both dead and wounded—and resulted in the deaths of four Iranian experts specializing in drone and missile operations in Taiz. Al-Nuaili also accused Houthi forces of targeting educational facilities, citing an attack on the Amr bin Al-Aas school in Al-Madhariba and Ras Al-Aara in Lahij governorate on September 23, 2026, which killed three civilians and injured four others.
Additional territorial engagements involved the Giants Brigades striking Houthi vehicles in the Kahboub front of Lahij governorate, while Nation Shield forces targeted Houthi concentrations in Al-Dhale. On the opposing side, Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Sare’e reported that air defenses shot down a Saudi-operated Karayel armed reconnaissance drone in Hajjah governorate’s Al-Taina area on Sunday using a suitable weapon.
Air Defense Warnings and Regional Developments
Information Minister Moammar Al-Eryani issued a warning regarding Houthi deployment of modified Iranian air defense systems capable of long-range flight. Al-Eryani stated on social media that these thermal-guided weapons operate without distinguishing between civilian and military targets, posing a direct threat to international air routes, commercial flights, and United Nations humanitarian missions originating from areas such as Hodeidah.
The latest fighting follows Saturday reports from Sare’e that the Saudi air force executed 27 airstrikes across Taiz, Marib, Saada, Amran, Ibb, and Hajjah. In response to regional hostilities, Saudi authorities intercepted two drones launched toward Riyadh on Saturday, and schools in the Saudi capital announced a shift to remote learning for one week starting Sunday.
Did You Know? The ongoing conflict in Yemen intensified significantly in 2014 when Houthi forces took control of the capital, Sana’a, prompting a Saudi-led military coalition to intervene in 2015 in support of the internationally recognized government.
Casualties from airstrike and military operation figures in Taiz
What caused the casualties in Taiz?
Seven people were killed and 40 injured in an airstrike on a market in central Taiz, which Houthi media attributed to a Saudi warplane.
How many operations did government forces report?
Colonel Staff Major Majid Abdullah Al-Nuaili stated that the armed forces carried out 756 targeted operations over a 72-hour period across multiple frontlines.
What did government officials say about Iranian involvement?
Government military spokespersons reported the deaths of four Iranian experts specializing in drone and missile operations during operations in Taiz governorate.
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