Houthis blame government for Taiz gas station strike that killed two

Yemenis in the besieged city of Taiz are facing intensified combat and disrupted supply lines as the war grinds on.

The Houthi-run Health Ministry announced on Tuesday that government forces struck a gas station in Taiz province late Monday, killing at least two people and injuring several others. Anees al-Asbahi, the ministry spokesperson, directed the accusation at state troops. Al-Masirah TV, which is controlled by the rebels, broadcast video of two bodies in bags and patients receiving hospital care, though the Associated Press could not verify the footage independently.

The local conflict has drawn wider attention from international monitors. Human Rights Watch released a report on Monday stating that Houthi fighters used explosives to severely damage the Hayjat al-Abd road, a primary entry point for food, fuel, and medicine. The group warned that destroying infrastructure essential for civilian survival could violate international law if the October 18 attack was deliberate. The organization noted that the damage has worsened the already dire humanitarian conditions within the city.

Regional tensions are also rising as Egypt moves to support its neighbor. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political bureau, told the Associated Press in a video interview that Egypt’s support for Saudi Arabia constitutes hostile action. He argued that the kingdom does not need external defense because it is the aggressor in Yemen. Egyptian lawmakers approved a measure requested by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in a closed session on Monday, pledging to provide all necessary support to Saudi Arabia’s security and territorial integrity.

The Saudi-led coalition reported that it intercepted four Houthi drones targeting the kingdom’s south and three ballistic missiles aimed at its eastern region during the overnight hours of Tuesday. Brig. Gen. Turki al-Malki, the coalition spokesperson, posted the update on X but did not provide further details or evidence. The Associated Press stated that it could not independently verify the coalition’s claim.

Egypt’s highest security body had previously pledged to protect Saudi resources and Islamic holy sites. Concern is growing among ordinary Egyptians that their country could be drawn deeper into the conflict. The report is set to be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.