On Saturday, 7 November 2026, a series of air strikes on the village of Al-Shariya, near the Yemeni capital Sana’a, claimed the lives of at least 27 people, according to the Houthi-controlled Ministry of Health, with a further 36 injured. The victims were predominantly women and children. This was reported by the Associated Press, citing a spokesperson for the ministry, Anis al-Asbahi.
According to the official, the death toll may rise as rescue workers continue to clear the rubble of the destroyed buildings. The Houthis have blamed Saudi Arabia for the attacks; at the time of the AP’s publication, Saudi Arabia had not commented.
- On 7 November, air strikes hit residential buildings in the village of Al-Shariya, near Sana’a.
- According to the Ministry of Health, which is controlled by the Houthis, at least 27 people have been killed and a further 36 wounded.
- The victims and those affected are predominantly women and children.
- The Houthis have accused Saudi Arabia, but the AP has been unable to independently verify these claims.
- The day before, at least 30 people were killed in a separate attack on a market in Yemen, according to the Houthis.
Air strikes on residential buildings: what is known about the consequences
According to the Associated Press, the village of Al-Sharia, situated approximately 15 kilometres north-east of Sana’a, was hit. This area is under the control of Houthis.
Footage published by Al-Masirah, a television channel controlled by the group, shows destroyed residential buildings, rubble and casualties being taken to hospitals. Among the injured are children, who are receiving emergency treatment from medical staff.
A spokesperson for the Houthi Ministry of Health Anis al-Asbahi He stated that there are still people trapped under the rubble. He also claims that, following the initial strikes, the air force carried out a second attack on the area where rescue workers were trying to extract the victims.
There is no independent corroboration of these allegations.
Who is being blamed for the air strikes on Yemen?
The Houthis claimed that the attacks were carried out by Saudi Arabia. However, at the time of publication, the Saudi Ministry of Information had not responded to an enquiry from Associated Press journalists.
Spokesperson for the Houthis’ military wing Yahya Sari He reported that the group had carried out strikes against Saudi Arabia in response to the bombing of the village of Al-Shariya and a previous attack on a market in south-western Yemen.
On 6 November, Houthi representatives reported that at least 30 people had been killed in an attack on a market. According to the AP, the Houthis and the Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces blamed each other for the incident.
According to Houthi officials, at least 57 people have been killed in the country in just two days. There is as yet no independent confirmation of the total number of casualties.
The escalation of the war in Yemen and the humanitarian crisis
Yemen has been embroiled in an armed conflict since 2014, when the Houthis seized the capital, Sana’a. The following year, Saudi Arabia led a military coalition in support of the country’s internationally recognised government.
In 2022, the parties reached a ceasefire, which reduced the intensity of the fighting for several years. However, in the summer of 2026, the conflict flared up again.
According to the AP, the Houthis have stepped up their attacks on Saudi targets and infrastructure, whilst the group led by Riyadh The coalition announced air strikes against the group’s military targets.
The situation around the city of Taiz remains particularly difficult, where fighting is restricting the local population’s access to food, water and medical care.
The air strikes on 7 November marked yet another escalation of the conflict. Rescue operations in Al-Sharia are ongoing, and the final death toll is still being determined. Responsibility for the attack has not been established by independent sources, and reports of further strikes on rescue workers still need to be verified.
