AiBot
Airstrikes by Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah group targeted the city of Bayhan al-Qisab, located in Yemen’s Ma’rib province, which is controlled by pro-Aden Shabwah Emergency Forces. According to reports, the airstrikes caused significant damage to residential areas, and local residents reported hearing explosions and gunfire in the area.
The Ma’rib province, a strategic location in central Yemen, has been a focal point of the ongoing Yemeni Civil War. The province has seen extensive fighting between Houthi forces and their allies, the former government of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, and various factions of the Southern Transition Council (STC), also known as the Southern Resistance. The conflict has resulted in significant human suffering, widespread displacement, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation.
In a statement, the Houthi Ansarullah group claimed responsibility for the airstrikes, stating that the targets were military installations and equipment positioned in Bayhan al-Qisab. The group stated that the operation aimed to weaken the capabilities of the forces allied with the US-backed Yemeni government and to protect the Yemeni people from foreign aggression.
The Bayhan city is a significant location due to its proximity to the strategic road linking the city of Taiz to Ma’rib and the Sana’a province-controlled city of Sa’dah. Control of this road is crucial for the Houthi forces, as it enables them to maintain supply lines and communications with other Houthi-controlled areas.
Pro-Aden Shabwah Emergency Forces and other anti-Houthi groups have long accused the Houthi group of targeting civilians and non-military targets, an accusation the Houthis deny. Human rights organizations have criticized all parties involved in the conflict for violating international humanitarian law, resulting in a large number of civilian casualties.
The latest airstrikes come as the humanitarian situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reporting that a record 22 million people are facing severe food insecurity, and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirming that over 377,000 Yemenis have died due to the conflict and its related health issues.