WHO reports more than 1,280 killed in Yemen fighting

At least 1,282 people have been killed and 5,891 injured in Yemen amid escalating fighting between August 6 and October 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday.

In its seventh report on the escalation of the conflict, the UN health agency recorded 7,173 casualties during the period, including those killed and wounded.

Deaths accounted for 17.9% of the total, while injuries made up the remaining 82.1%, according to the report.

Casualties nearly double in early October

The WHO documented 2,007 additional casualties between October 3 and 11, including 323 deaths and 1,684 injuries.

The daily average rose to approximately 223 people killed or injured, nearly double the 114 recorded during the preceding period.

The figures highlight the growing human toll as fighting intensifies across several parts of the country.

Government offensive targets Houthi-held territory

The escalation comes amid the Dawn of Yemen military operation, launched earlier this month by Yemen’s internationally recognized government to retake areas controlled by the Houthi movement, including the capital, Sanaa.

The offensive, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, has intensified clashes on several fronts, particularly in Taiz, where government forces and Houthi fighters have fought over strategic positions and supply routes.

Conflict continues after years of war

Yemen has been engulfed in conflict since the Houthis seized Sanaa in 2014, forcing the internationally recognized government from the capital.

A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in 2015 to support the government against the Houthis.

The latest casualty figures underscore the continuing humanitarian impact of the conflict as military operations intensify.