Failed Houthi Missile Attack Turns Deadly in Yemen's Sanaa Neighborhood

A rocket fired by the Iran-backed Houthis from a military site in Bani Hashish District, east of Yemen's Sanaa, struck the crowded Farwah Market in Musaik neighborhood of Shu'ub District on Sunday evening, causing a devastating civilian massacre. Local sources said.

The projectile, part of a Houthi air defense system, reportedly malfunctioned or missed its intended target, slamming into the bustling market.

Social media footage documented the immediate aftermath, revealing scenes of chaos, destruction, and numerous casualties amid shattered stalls and debris.

Houthi-aligned media outlets, citing their de facto health ministry, acknowledged the toll—12 dead and over 30 wounded—but falsely claimed the casualties resulted from a “U.S. airstrike.” This narrative was directly contradicted by local activists and eyewitnesses, who confirmed the rocket originated from Houthi-controlled territory.

In a separate incident, another Houthi projectile struck Al-Za’la village in Jabal Al-Mahwit District, though no fatalities were reported. Activists circulated images of missile wreckage from the attack, including a fragment marked “219” consistent with known Houthi munitions, underscoring the group’s pattern of deploying indiscriminate weaponry in civilian areas.

Observers and critics accused the Houthis of exploiting such tragedies for propaganda, systematically attributing self-inflicted harm to foreign military actions despite mounting evidence of their culpability. This incident echoes broader allegations of the group manipulating narratives to deflect accountability for civilian casualties in Yemen’s protracted conflict.