At least 17 people lost their lives, and dozens sustained serious injuries following an explosion at a fuel station in Yemen, according to health authorities.
The blast, which occurred on Saturday in the southwestern al-Bayda province, resulted in at least 91 casualties, as reported by the Houthi-run health ministry. Of those injured, over 50 are in critical condition, with rescue operations ongoing to locate those still missing.
“We extend our sincere condolences and sympathy to the families and relatives of the victims of the painful accident that occurred as a result of the explosion of gas stations in the village of Al-Majrish,” the health ministry said in a statement. The al-Bayda province is under the control of Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have been engaged in a prolonged conflict with Yemen’s internationally recognized government. The civil war has claimed over 150,000 lives and triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Separately, in the same province, the Houthis reportedly attacked and looted the Hanaka al-Masoud village in the al-Qurayshiya district last week, according to allegations by the internationally recognized government.
“This horrific attack targeted citizens’ homes and mosques, resulting in numerous casualties, including women and children, as well as the destruction of property,” stated Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani. The government also accused the Houthis of imposing a week-long siege before the assault.
The U.S. Embassy in Yemen condemned the attack, stating, “The deaths, injuries, and wrongful detentions of innocent Yemenis perpetrated by Houthi terrorists are depriving the Yemeni people of peace and a brighter future.”
Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when the Houthi rebels seized control of the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country’s northern region, forcing the government to relocate south and eventually to Saudi Arabia. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition intervened to restore the government’s authority. Rights activist Riyadh al-Dubai reported that the Houthis detained dozens of men, looted homes, and seized valuables, including gold, money, and daggers. He also noted that relentless shelling by the Houthis had persisted for more than five days.
The cause of the fuel station explosion remains unclear. Footage circulating online shows a massive fire sending columns of black smoke into the air, with nearby vehicles reduced to charred remains.
The explosion came a day after Israeli airstrikes targeted a power station and two ports in Yemen in retaliation for Houthi drone and missile attacks on Israel. The Houthis have frequently launched strikes on ships in the Red Sea since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Pro-Houthi media reported that one person had died, and nine others were wounded in the Israeli airstrikes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Iran-backed Houthi militia was “paying and will continue to pay a heavy price for their aggression against us.”
The airstrikes targeted the Ras Issa and Hodeidah ports, the Hezyaz central power station in Sanaa, and the Harf Sufyan District in Amran province, according to Al Masirah TV, the primary Houthi-run news outlet.
