Yemen Rights Group Documents 661 Houthi Violations in Taiz Over 13 Days

A Yemeni human rights network has documented 661 alleged violations by Houthi forces against civilians in Taiz Governorate, southwestern Yemen, between September 3 and 15.

The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms reported that its teams recorded crimes including killings, injuries, and field executions, alongside shelling of civilian areas and infrastructure, abductions, home raids, property destruction, and attacks on vital facilities.

According to the report, the escalation during the monitoring period resulted in the deaths of 51 civilians and injuries to 62 others, including women and children, due to sniping, artillery shelling, mortar rounds, drones, and ballistic missiles. The network also documented the summary execution of nine soldiers in front of their children in the Al-Waziyah, Muqbanah, and Al-Khadha districts.

The report detailed 167 cases of abduction and arrest, predominantly in Houthi-controlled areas, and 213 home raids in the Al-Waziyah, Muqbanah, and Al-Khadha districts. The damage documented includes five mosques, six health facilities, 16 electricity stations and generators, nine telecommunications networks and stations, two bridges, and two main roads, including the Hajjah Al-Abd road connecting Taiz to Aden. Thirty-four civilian vehicles were also damaged.

The network stated that the scale of violations over 13 days indicates a severe deterioration in the security and humanitarian environment in the governorate. The targeting of homes, health facilities, places of worship, communication and electricity networks, roads, and transportation negatively impacts essential services and restricts residents' access to food, water, healthcare, and mobility. The military escalation has also led to the displacement of thousands of families, exacerbating shortages of food, water, and medicine, and further degrading basic services.

Furthermore, the network documented extensive recruitment operations by the Iran-backed Houthi militia targeting Yemeni children and African refugees and migrants. Some individuals were allegedly lured or forced to join the militia and deployed to front lines. The network considers child recruitment and the exploitation of migrants and refugees in combat a serious violation of international laws protecting children and civilians, exposing vulnerable groups to direct risks.

The organization warned that the continued escalation in Taiz worsens the humanitarian crisis and threatens remaining infrastructure and vital services. It called on the international community and human rights organizations to intensify documentation efforts and take action to protect civilians. The network also urged pressure to halt attacks on civilians and civilian objects, and to ensure humanitarian aid and essential services reach displaced and affected populations.