While the Riyadh airport strike has drawn global attention, another part of the Yemen conflict is suffering quietly. French news agency AFP reported on Monday, citing military sources from both sides, that Houthi fighters have ramped up their siege of the city of Taiz, and that fighting there has killed more than 60 people in the past 24 hours.
Taiz has long been one of the most painful frontlines in Yemen's war. A siege means more than gunfire: it can choke off food, medicine, fuel and water for civilians who simply live there. When a siege tightens, hospitals struggle, markets empty and families have to make impossible choices about whether to stay or flee. A single day with dozens of deaths is a reminder of how heavy the toll is on a population already exhausted by years of conflict.
The timing matters too. The Houthis have also been blamed for missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, including the Riyadh airport strikes, and the wider regional war involving Iran is putting pressure on every side. Analysts often warn that attention on the headline attacks can allow local battles to intensify with little scrutiny.
What can readers do? Follow reliable coverage, look for updates from humanitarian organisations working in Yemen, and treat casualty figures as preliminary, since access to the area is limited and numbers from different sources can vary. A durable ceasefire, access for aid convoys and protection of civilians remain the essential demands. Until then, Taiz is likely to feature in headlines for painful reasons.
