Yemen Ministry Condemns Houthi Attacks on Civilians, School in Taiz

The internationally recognized Yemeni government's Ministry of Human Rights has strongly condemned escalating military actions by the Houthi militia in various areas of Taiz province, southwest Yemen. The ministry accused the militia of deliberately targeting residential neighborhoods, displacement camps, and an educational facility.

The ministry stated that a civilian, identified as Fouad Muqbel Hassan, was killed by Houthi sniper fire in front of his home in the Shabiya area of Maqbanah district. Simultaneously, areas within Maqbanah, Jabal Habashi, Al-Kadiha, and Al-Dabab experienced artillery and rocket shelling, as well as drone attacks.

Furthermore, the ministry reported that the Houthi militia targeted Karim School in Al-Wazi'iyah district with a missile strike during educational activities, causing damage to the building. This attack, the ministry emphasized, endangered students and violated their right to education.

The ministry also accused the Houthi militia of shelling Al-Rahba, Al-Rajhi, and Wadi Al-Hinaya displacement camps with artillery and machine guns. Mortar shells landed near one of the camps, forcing dozens of displaced families to flee their shelters once again.

The ministry asserted that these attacks on civilians, displaced persons, and educational facilities, along with the use of weaponry in populated areas, constitute violations of international humanitarian law, with some incidents potentially amounting to war crimes.

The ministry held the Houthi militia responsible for the attacks and their resulting casualties, damages, and displacement. It urged the United Nations and the international community to condemn these aggressions, hold those responsible accountable, and put an end to what it described as a state of impunity.

Yemen has been embroiled in a protracted conflict for over a decade, with front lines concentrated in several regions, including Taiz province, which has historically been a site of intense clashes and reciprocal shelling between government forces and the Houthi militia.