Saudi strike on Yemen's Taiz kills seven, Houthi media says

A Saudi airstrike on Taiz in southwest Yemen killed seven people and wounded dozens more, Houthi media reported on Sunday. The Iran-backed Houthis' Al-Masirah TV channel said the strike killed seven and wounded 40 in a central marketplace, minutes after reporting that a Saudi fighter jet had targeted the area. The attack comes as Yemen's war has reignited against the backdrop of the widening Middle East conflict.

What happened in the Saudi strike on Taiz?

A Saudi fighter jet targeted a central marketplace in Taiz on Sunday, according to Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah TV. The strike killed seven people and wounded 40 others, the channel said. Taiz is a major city controlled by the internationally recognized government and has been thrust to the frontlines of fighting between the Houthis and government forces.

Why has Yemen's war reignited?

Yemen's war erupted in 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital Sanaa from the Saudi-backed government before going on to take control of vast swathes of the country's north. Following years of relative calm, the conflict reignited in July against the backdrop of the widening Middle East war. Fighting intensified further in September as the Houthis launched a lightning offensive that saw them seize Yemen's entire Red Sea coast, including the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

How has the Houthi offensive affected the region?

The Houthis have launched a blockade on Saudi energy exports, which were already choked off by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it intercepted two Houthi drones heading toward the capital Riyadh. Schools in Riyadh announced on Sunday that they would shift to remote learning for a week, without giving a reason, according to messages emailed to parents and seen by AFP.

Has Saudi Arabia responded with further strikes?

Despite Saudi backing, Yemen's government forces have been unable to repel the latest Houthi offensive. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said on Saturday that Saudi air forces launched 27 strikes targeting Taiz, Marib, Saada, Amran, Ibb and Hajjah provinces.