Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi ordered on Saturday the formation of a presidential committee to resolve renewed unrest in the liberated areas in Taiz province. It will be tasked with settling tribal infighting and shoring up local authorities led by Governor Amin Mahmoud.
A government source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the committee is composed of high-ranking military and civilian leaders that will begin field inspections in Taiz immediately.
The team of experts and officials hope to gather more information about renewed armed clashes.
The source said that Hadi, during his meeting with Taiz civilian and military leaders, expressed discontent over the continued chaos in the city, deeming it reckless and blaming it a lack of awareness among local political forces and parties.
He said that Taiz political forces must set aside personal agendas and prioritize public interest, focusing their efforts on resolving battles with the Iran-backed Houthi militias.
Local and security sources in Taiz confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat that Taiz clashes between armed factions led to casualties despite efforts by Mahmoud to ease tensions between the rival parties.
He also urged armed factions to focus on completing the liberation of the besieged city.
Over the past months, rivalries between these factions led to a series of assassinations of soldiers, civilians and local leaders, amid civilian pleas for direct government intervention to end the conflict and restore security.
Houthi militias still control some of Taiz’s eastern and northern territory, along with a number of other directorates, while government forces control the southern and western parts of the city.