Fighting intensifies in Yemen as Houthis deny targeting Mecca
Fighting has intensified in Yemen with casualties surging as the Iran-allied Houthis reject Saudi claims they targeted Islam's holiest city, Mecca.
Yemen's Houthis have rejected Saudi claims that they targeted Mecca, as casualties surge in the war between the internationally recognized government and the Iran-allied group. The World Health Organisation reports more than 320,000 people have been displaced in Yemen fighting since August 1.
Denials and Claims
A Houthi spokesperson on Wednesday denied what he called Saudi "lies" that the group had launched a drone towards Mecca. Instead, they claimed a drone was launched at a pumping station in Yanbu on the Red Sea, and Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport was targeted with three cruise missiles.
Saudi-led coalition forces earlier said they had intercepted three cruise missiles launched towards Riyadh, along with drones toward Mecca and Saudi Arabia's southern regions. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence Authority confirmed debris from interception of two ballistic missiles fell in Sabuhah village in Mecca province.
This hostile targeting of civilian objects constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and reflects the dangerous hostile approach pursued by the Houthi militia.
Escalating Violence
Fighting has intensified inside Yemen between Saudi-backed forces and Houthi fighters. According to Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili, Yemen's army spokesperson, at least 138 Houthi fighters were killed or wounded in hundreds of targeted attacks.
Al-Nuzaili stated that Yemen's Saudi-backed army carried out 773 field artillery attacks, 44 drone strikes, and 37 rocket attacks in al-Jawf, Marib, al-Bayda and Taiz governorates. Saudi-led coalition forces conducted 23 air strikes, damaging 86 heavy weapons and military vehicles.
Despite these operations, Houthi attacks continue on the al-Buraiqa district in Aden, where the internationally recognized government is based. Minister of Information Salem al-Awalqi condemned the "repeated shelling by the terrorist Houthi militia" on Aden.
These assaults will fail to break the will of the people of Aden or undermine their resilience; rather, they will only strengthen their resolve to confront the aggression and defend their city.
Humanitarian Crisis
The WHO reports casualties from fighting have risen sharply to 11,755, including 2,098 killed and 9,657 wounded as of November 8. More than 2,000 casualties were recorded in just nine days, with Marib and Lahij among the worst affected governorates.
The United Nations agency said strikes have hit health facilities and ambulances, with critical fuel shortages disrupting emergency medical services in Taiz. Despite medical aid deliveries and a vaccination campaign targeting nearly one million children, major gaps remain in trauma care, rehabilitation, and mental health services.
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