The World Health Organisation reports more than 320,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since August 1 as fighting intensifies between Saudi-backed government forces and the Iran-allied Houthis.
Houthi spokesperson denied Saudi claims that the group targeted Mecca on Wednesday, saying instead that a drone struck a pumping station in Yanbu on the Red Sea and cruise missiles hit Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport. Saudi-led coalition forces said they intercepted three cruise missiles headed toward Riyadh, along with drones aimed at Mecca and Saudi Arabia's southern regions. Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence Authority said debris from intercepting two ballistic missiles fell in Sabuhah village in Mecca province and called the targeting of civilian objects "a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law."
Fighting inside Yemen escalated sharply. Yemen's army spokesperson Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili said Saudi-backed forces conducted 773 field artillery attacks, 44 drone strikes and 37 rocket attacks across four governorates, killing or wounding at least 138 Houthi fighters. Saudi-led coalition forces carried out 23 air strikes and damaged 86 heavy weapons and military vehicles. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said his forces "successfully targeted" a Saudi coalition command and control centre in Aden's al-Buraiqa district with "several ballistic missiles."
Casualties from the fighting reached 11,755 as of November 8, including 2,098 killed and 9,657 wounded, according to WHO. The agency recorded more than 2,000 casualties in nine days, with Marib and Lahij among the worst affected. Strikes hit health facilities and ambulances. Critical fuel shortages are disrupting emergency medical services in Taiz.