Houthi Forces Claim Gas Station Strike Killed Two in Yemen

Yemen has been engulfed in a complex civil war for over a decade, with various factions vying for control of key cities and supply routes. On Tuesday, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels reported that at least two people were killed in a government strike on a gas station in Taiz province.

The Houthi-run Health Ministry stated that government forces targeted the gas station late Monday night. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the ministry, said the attack wounded several others. Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV broadcast footage showing two bodies in bags and injured patients receiving care in a hospital. The Associated Press could not independently verify the casualty counts or the specific timing of the blast.

The violence occurs as fighting intensifies around the besieged provincial capital. In a separate development, a Saudi-led coalition announced it had intercepted four Houthi drones targeting the south of the kingdom and three ballistic missiles aimed at its eastern region. Brig. Gen. Turki al-Malki, the coalition spokesperson, posted the update on X but provided no further evidence or details. The Associated Press also could not independently confirm these intercepts.

Human Rights Watch released a report on Monday addressing the deteriorating conditions in Taiz. The group said Houthi rebels used explosives on October 18 to severely damage the Hayjat al-Abd road. This route serves as a primary entry point for food, fuel, and medicine. The rights group warned that destroying such infrastructure may violate international law if the intent was to disable assets indispensable to civilian survival.

The conflict is expanding diplomatically as well. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthi political bureau, told The Associated Press in a video interview that Egypt’s support for Saudi Arabia constitutes a hostile action. He argued that the Egyptian parliament’s decision to back the kingdom would draw the Arab world's most populous nation into what he termed aggression against Yemen. Egyptian lawmakers approved the measure in a closed session on Monday at the request of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

Egypt’s highest security body pledged to provide all necessary forms of support to Saudi Arabia to defend its security, resources, and territorial integrity. This move comes as concern grows among ordinary Egyptians about being drawn into the Yemen conflict. The Houthi official maintained that the kingdom is the aggressor and does not require external defense.

The situation on the ground remains volatile as both sides continue to exchange strikes. The destruction of the Hayjat al-Abd road has further strained the humanitarian logistics in Taiz. Coalition forces continue to monitor the southern and eastern borders for incoming projectiles. The Egyptian government is now formally committed to supporting its Gulf neighbor in the ongoing regional dispute.