Children and women among the wounded as Houthis expand attacks on civilians in Taiz

The Houthis are continuing their abuses against civilians in Taiz governorate, with reports indicating that five people were wounded on Monday evening in sniper attacks and shelling targeting several neighbourhoods and residential areas.

Yemeni sources said five civilians, including two children, sustained injuries of varying severity in separate attacks involving gunfire and shell fragments across several districts of Taiz.

According to the sources, two people were wounded by direct gunfire in Al-Mudhaffar and Sabr al-Mawadim districts. Two children and a woman were injured by shrapnel from artillery shelling targeting the Usayfirah area and Al-Arbaeen neighbourhood in the besieged city of Taiz.

Meanwhile, the government office responsible for affairs relating to the siege of Taiz reported that the Houthis had abducted several farmers in the Al-Maqarimah area of Al-Shamayatayn district, in southern Taiz governorate. The reasons for the abductions remain unknown.

The office said Houthi forces had stormed the villages of Shaab al-Hayy, Al-Sumayd and Al-Baynayn, raiding several homes and terrorising residents.

It added that Houthi members had prevented some farmers from harvesting their fields, leaving their crops at risk of spoiling. They also reportedly verbally abused women working in some fields, conduct the office described as “a flagrant violation of civilians’ rights and safety”.

Separately, the Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms said on Monday that it had recorded 132 crimes and violations committed by the Houthi militia against civilians in Taiz over the preceding three days.

According to the organisation, the documented incidents included the deaths of 32 civilians and injuries to 58 others resulting from Houthi rocket attacks, artillery shelling and sniper fire targeting civilian objects and populated areas across different parts of Taiz.