Houthis report two killed in Taiz gas station strike

The Houthi-run Health Ministry said at least two people died and several others were wounded when government forces struck a gas station in Taiz province on Monday evening.

The attack occurred while fighting around the besieged provincial capital of Taiz intensified. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the Houthi Health Ministry, accused government troops of targeting the facility. Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV broadcast footage showing two bodies in body bags and multiple patients receiving treatment at a hospital. The Associated Press did not independently verify the casualty count or the cause of the strike.

The violence follows a recent escalation in hostilities across the region. On October 18, Houthi rebels used explosives to severely damage the Hayjat al-Abd road, a primary route for supplying the city. Human Rights Watch released a report on Monday stating that the destruction of this critical infrastructure worsens the humanitarian crisis in Taiz.

The rights group identified the road as a key entry point for food, fuel, and medicine. Human Rights Watch warned that if the October 18 attack was intended to disable infrastructure indispensable to civilian survival, it may violate international law. The organization also noted that the explosion may have harmed civilians in the vicinity.

Regional tensions remained high on Tuesday. Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, posted on X that coalition forces intercepted four Houthi drones targeting the south of the kingdom and three ballistic missiles aimed at the eastern region. Al-Malki did not provide additional details or visual evidence, and the Associated Press could not independently confirm the intercepts.

The gas station strike marks the latest exchange in a prolonged conflict that has trapped residents of Taiz behind Houthi lines. Government forces and Houthi fighters continue to engage in heavy combat around the city's perimeter.

Officials from both sides are expected to issue further statements as they assess the damage from the gas station explosion and the recent missile attempts. The humanitarian situation in Taiz is expected to remain strained due to the damaged supply routes.