Deadly Shelling in Yemen Village Kills 10, Including 6 Children During Ramadan

A shelling attack on a northern Yemen village killed at least 10 people, including six children, while families were gathering for their evening Ramadan meal. The Yemeni government is pointing fingers at Iran-backed Houthi rebels for the deadly strike that also injured more than 30 others.

A deadly shelling struck a village in northern Yemen on Sunday, claiming the lives of at least 10 people, with six of the victims being children, while more than 30 others sustained injuries, government officials reported Monday. Yemen’s government is pointing the blame at Iran-backed Houthi rebels for the fatal bombardment.

According to the Information Ministry, the rebels launched their attack against civilians who had come together for iftar, the traditional evening meal that ends the daily fast during Ramadan, in Hajjah province. While the Houthis maintain control over most of this province, certain sections remain under the authority of Yemen’s internationally recognized government, which operates from Aden.

Details surrounding Sunday’s bombardment remain murky, and Houthi representatives have refused to provide any statement regarding the incident.

Hajjah province has been a battleground between Houthi forces and government troops since Yemen descended into civil conflict in 2014. That year marked when the Houthis took control of Sanaa, the capital city, along with large portions of northern Yemen, forcing the government into exile. The following year saw a Saudi-led coalition, which includes the United Arab Emirates, step in militarily in hopes of reinstating the government.

This ongoing war has brought Yemen’s economy to near-total collapse and created “severe” food shortages in northern regions, including Hajjah, the World Food Program reports.

In an official statement, the Information Ministry warned that fatalities could climb higher, noting that several of those injured remain in critical condition.