Fighting has intensified in Yemen between Saudi-backed government forces and the Iran-allied Houthis, with the rebel group denying Saudi accusations that they targeted Mecca.
A Houthi spokesperson rejected what he called Saudi "lies" on Wednesday, saying instead that a drone was launched at a pumping station in Yanbu on the Red Sea and that three cruise missiles targeted Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence Authority said it intercepted three cruise missiles and drones, with debris from two intercepted ballistic missiles falling in the village of Sabuhah in Mecca province.
Yemen's Saudi-backed army reported killing or wounding at least 138 Houthi fighters across hundreds of targeted attacks, including 773 field artillery attacks, 44 drone strikes and 37 rocket attacks in multiple governorates. The Saudi-led coalition conducted 23 air strikes, damaging 86 heavy weapons and military vehicles.
Despite these reported successes, the Houthis have continued shelling Aden, where Yemen's internationally recognised government is based. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said his forces "successfully targeted" a Saudi coalition military command and control centre in the city's al-Buraiqa district with "several ballistic missiles."
The World Health Organisation reported that casualties from the fighting have risen to 11,755 people, including 2,098 killed and 9,657 wounded as of November 8. Over 320,000 people have been displaced since August 1, including almost 16,000 who fled their homes in the past week. The WHO warned that critical fuel shortages are disrupting emergency medical services in Taiz and that strikes have hit health facilities and ambulances.