Yemen’s Houthi movement has accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out a strike on a prison in Al-Hazm, the capital of northern Al-Jawf province, amid renewed fighting.

Houthi officials said seven people, including a child, were killed and at least seven others wounded, while prisoners and a visitor were reportedly trapped beneath rubble.

The casualty figures and responsibility for the strike were claims made by Houthi authorities; Saudi Arabia had not issued an immediate response when the first reports were published.

The allegation came as clashes intensified between the Iran-aligned Houthis and forces supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government across several strategic areas.

Separate reporting indicated that the fighting has spread across multiple provinces and is again threatening routes near the Bab al-Mandab strait, a vital passage for international shipping.

The latest escalation risks further harm to civilians in a country already devastated by years of war, displacement, hunger and severe pressure on essential services.

Sources

Featured image: asamw/Unsplash. The photograph is illustrative and does not show the reported strike.