Yemen Conflict Escalates as Government Forces Strike Houthi Targets
Yemen's government forces have launched strikes against Houthi targets across the country, escalating the conflict in one of the world's poorest nations. The armed forces targeted areas in the capital Sanaa, the northwestern governorate of Saada, and Taiz in the southwest, according to military spokesman Colonel Majid al-Nuzaili.
The Houthis have been accused of attacking an oil facility near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital, with ballistic missiles and drones. The facility was reportedly damaged, but no casualties were reported. The Houthis also claimed that they had targeted the telecommunications network in Saada with missile strikes.
The conflict has worsened a humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with three-quarters of the population unable to meet its basic food needs, according to the World Food Programme. The fighting has centered on Taiz, where dozens of combatants were reported killed on Friday. The Houthis have yet to take control of Taiz city.