Eight fishermen killed in airstrikes on boats off Yemen's Taiz coast

Airstrikes hit two fishing boats off Al-Kadha on Yemen’s Taiz coast, according to a Yemeni outlet.

Eight fishermen were killed, and officials said others were injured.

The outlet said a second strike hit fishermen as they tried to escape in another boat.

The fishermen were working in coastal waters, and Yemen’s agriculture ministry said the boats were fishing.

A ministry statement rejected claims that traditional boats were being used to smuggle weapons, saying this did not justify targeting fishermen.

The deaths have drawn condemnation from Yemeni human rights, agriculture and fisheries bodies, which called for international attention.

The groups urged international bodies to respond and hold those responsible to account.