Houthis report 30 killed in Yemen market attack as rival authorities dispute blame

The Houthi-run health ministry said Al-Hadara market in Al-Waziyah district was hit by three Saudi air strikes on Friday. In a statement carried by the Houthi-controlled Saba news agency, it said eight people were injured and rescue teams were still recovering victims from the rubble.

The provisional toll was higher than an earlier report by ministry spokesman Anis al-Asbahi, who told Saba that 20 people had been killed and 10 injured. He also told the Houthi-run Al-Masirah broadcaster that 15 people had been injured, according to the Associated Press. The later ministry statement did not explain the lower injury figure.

The Taiz provincial administration linked to Yemen’s government also reported deaths and injuries at the market, but blamed the Houthis. Citing its operations room, it said no military aircraft had carried out an operation in Al-Waziyah that day. It called for physical evidence to be preserved and independently examined.

The Associated Press said it could not independently verify either side’s account of responsibility. Saudi Arabia’s information ministry did not immediately respond to its request for comment.

In September, the Houthi-run health ministry reported seven deaths in a separate strike on a market in Taiz province. Houthi officials blamed Saudi aircraft for that attack.