Sana'a, April 12—An air strike launched this morning by Saudi-led coalition forces has hit Al-Dhahirah village in the Mawia district of Taiz, causing the death of at least eight civilians and injuring more than ten. 

All casualties belonged to the Al-Muhamasheen minority group, a marginalized community of African decent found throughout Yemen. The village is located precariously close to the 22nd Republican Guards Brigade, which was the likely target and was also damaged in the attack.

According to eye witnesses, coalition forces launched two strikes that seemed to target the brigade. While one of the strikes hit the brigade directly the other landed in the neighboring village of Al-Dhahirah.

Assistant Security Manager of Taiz governorate Edi Al-Yousfi believes the  airstrike did not intend to attack the village deliberately but may have missed its target by error.

Hamza Mosed, a citizen from Mawia district, told the Yemen Times that Al-Dhahirah is a small village where the local Al-Muhamasheen population have been "living for ages". He confirmed that one of the two strikes hit their village and destroyed a number of houses.

Taiz governorate has suffered almost daily airstrikes since Operation Decisive Storm began on March 26.

In related news, yesterday evening saw dozens of soldiers of the 35th Armored Brigade leaving their camp in the west of the city and have been deployed in streets throughout Taiz city, according to local resident Rafat Abdu. He added that anti-Houthi armed men were also seen to the north of the city in anticipation of a Houthi advance.

Abdu added that soldiers in armored vehicles and tanks have been seen entering neighborhoods in areas of western Taiz, causing residents of Taiz city to fear a potential outbreak of clashes between Houthi forces on the one hand and forces loyal to President Hadi on the other.

Taiz is one of few governorates to have has thus far escaped Houthi control, although Houthi as well as anti-Houthi forces maintain a foothold in the capital city. While Republican Guard and other units allied with Houthi militants remain in control of military camps in the governorate, forces allied with Hadi or the governor of Taiz are established in other parts of the city.

A soldier of the 35th Armored Brigade, speaking to the Yemen Times on condition of anonymity, said soldiers from his brigade left their camp in order to avoid being hit by Saudi-led airstrikes and have no plans to clash with other forces in the area.

According to Rafat Abdu, apart from the risk of being caught in the crossfire between the Houthi and anti-Houthi forces, residents of Taiz are now also fearful of aerial coalition bombardments that have begun targeting installations close to residential areas.