SANAA, Yemen — Three children were reportedly killed and more than a dozen people injured in airstrikes in southwestern Yemen, according to Houthi authorities, as fighting between the Iran-backed rebel group and Saudi Arabia and its Yemeni allies intensifies.
The strikes occurred on Friday, October 16, in al-Ar village in the Dawran Aness district of Dhamar province. Yemen’s Houthi-run health ministry said the victims included an eight-year-old child and two children aged 10. Several other people were wounded in the attack.
Houthis Accuse Saudi Arabia of Carrying Out Strikes
The Houthi rebels accused Saudi Arabia of conducting the airstrikes, claiming the attacks hit residential homes and caused civilian casualties.
Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on the allegations as of Saturday, October 17. The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the intended targets, could not be independently verified.
The incident comes amid escalating hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia, which backs Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The latest violence has raised further concerns about civilian safety in a country already devastated by years of conflict and humanitarian hardship.
Yemen’s Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The renewed fighting has placed additional pressure on Yemen’s already struggling health system. Hospitals in several parts of the country are facing an influx of war casualties, shortages of medical supplies and difficulties providing treatment to vulnerable patients.
Humanitarian organizations have also warned that intensified clashes and restricted access routes have disrupted aid deliveries to hundreds of thousands of people. In areas affected by the fighting, food shortages and limited access to essential medical services are worsening conditions for families, including children.
The latest reported deaths underscore the growing risks faced by civilians as fighting spreads across different parts of Yemen.
Israeli Settler Violence Raises Further Concerns
Elsewhere in the Middle East, an American photojournalist underwent surgery after being severely beaten during an attack by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Heidi Levine, a veteran photographer for The Washington Post, was injured while covering violence affecting Palestinian communities during the annual olive harvest. Reports said she suffered serious injuries, including a broken rib and vertebra, highlighting the dangers facing journalists documenting the conflict.
The incidents in Yemen and the West Bank reflect continuing security challenges across the region, with civilians and journalists increasingly exposed to violence.
Swifteradio.com
