Militia forces have intensified attacks on civilians in Yemen's Taiz province, resulting in numerous casualties, including children and women, amid an ongoing siege.
The Houthi militia has escalated its shelling and targeting of civilians in Taiz governorate, with repeated assaults hitting residential areas, markets, and civilian facilities. In recent days, these attacks have caused dozens of deaths and injuries, including children and women, coinciding with the continued blockade of the city.
According to the Taiz Governorate Siege Affairs Office, nine civilians, including five children and two women, were injured by Houthi shelling, gunfire, and sniper attacks in the districts of Saber Al-Maudem, Mashra'a wa Hadnan, and Al-Aqroodh. The office stated that the injured children's ages range from 6 to 17 years, and their injuries were caused by shrapnel, sniper fire, and direct shooting, reflecting the militia's continued use of lethal force against populated areas.
In a broader assessment, the Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms documented the deaths of 32 civilians and injuries to 58 others within just three days. Among the casualties were two children and three women, who were victims of rocket and artillery shelling and sniper operations in various parts of Taiz province. The network reported that the Houthis fired approximately 216 projectiles towards residential neighborhoods and areas, damaging 19 homes, civilian facilities, and four vehicles. Targeted locations included the villages of Al-Najada, Wadi Al-Bair, Al-Aroos, the old airport, and other areas.
The violations were not limited to shelling. The network also documented the abduction of six civilians, including elderly individuals, in the districts of Al-Masrakh and Al-Hudayyah, who were taken to unknown locations. This is part of a campaign of intimidation and persecution targeting residents in areas experiencing military escalation. Incidents documented by the network include the targeting of a popular market in the Al-Waze'iyah district and the shelling of an ambulance in the Al-Aqroodh area, placing civilians and facilities related to humanitarian and health services in direct danger.
This escalation occurs while the Houthi militia continues its siege of Taiz, making shelling, sniping, and abduction part of a broader pattern of pressure on the population, rather than solely engaging military positions. The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms emphasized that the targeting of civilians, civilian objects, medical facilities, and indiscriminate attacks are prohibited under international humanitarian law and may constitute war crimes, depending on the circumstances of each incident and the fulfillment of their legal elements.
