Civilian Death Toll Rises As The Battle For Yemen’s Taiz Continues

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At least 1,300 civilians have been killed in violence that has increased in intensity over the past few weeks in the Yemeni city of Taiz, according to local monitoring groups. Aljazeera reports:

Among those killed were 198 children, the Local Monitor’s Network in Taiz said on Friday, adding that 6,000 others, including 641 children, had been injured. Taiz, the Arabian Peninsula country’s third largest city, has been the site of deadly clashes and intensified air strikes by the Arab coalition as forces loyal to try to defeat Houthi fighters.

Yemen has been rocked by months of fighting between the Iran-allied Shia Houthis and Hadi loyalists, supported by the Arab coalition, leaving thousands dead and 21 million people in need of urgent aid.

Reports say at least 45 Houthi fighters and eight Hadi loyalists have died in the latest battles. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said stocks of essential medical supplies cannot be delivered to most hospitals in a besieged enclave of the city of Taiz.