At least 31 people, including eight civilians, were killed Saturday as fighting raged in the southern Yemeni province of Taiz. Both sides blamed the other for the fighting, which has continued despite a ceasefire nominally being in place nationwide.
A split of casualties in the fighting was not available, but Houthi forces fired into the pro-Saudi held presidential palace in Taiz itself, reportedly killing several senior commanders in a palace that was used as a makeshift military base.
The ceasefire initially began a week and a half ago, with an eye toward supporting peace talks between the two factions. The talks didn’t go well, and even though fighting continued throughout the first week, it was agreed the ceasefire would be extended.
Though the Saudis have maintained it is only the Houthis violating the ceasefire, so far they appear to have been the primary beneficiaries of the continued fighting, seizing a few cities along the frontier amid the peace talks.