Yemen's Taiz governorate is facing a relentless Houthi military escalation that continues to deepen the suffering of its residents. Ongoing shelling targets residential neighborhoods and villages, while tightening restrictions choke civilian movement and block essential supplies.
Human rights reports documented hundreds of civilian casualties and abductions, and widespread damage to homes and vehicles.
The Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms documented 1,891 crimes and violations committed by the Iran-backed Houthi group against civilians and civilian objects in the governorate from September 1 to October 22.
This toll coincided with the network monitoring 21 additional crimes and violations within a 24-hour period, along with the firing of around 213 projectiles into residential areas.
In its report, "Taiz... Bloody Invasion and Systematic Killing," the monitor said the violations resulted in the killing of 212 civilians, including 38 children - seven of whom were infants - and 27 women, as well as the wounding of 319 civilians, including 29 children and 46 women.
The report documented 23 cases of field executions, five massacres, and 314 instances of abduction and enforced disappearance, including 14 children held hostage to pressure their families. Additionally, 516 homes were raided in search of individuals suspected of being linked to government forces.
Houthi attacks damaged 356 homes, including 98 that were completely destroyed, while three others were blown up.
According to the report, Houthi shelling and sniper fire extended to the villages of Kahlan and al-Shaqb, the old airport neighborhood.
The repercussions are not limited to casualties and destruction; the network said the Houthis fired around 9,876 projectiles during the period covered by its report, tightened the siege on the governorate since September 3, and established 26 illegal checkpoints and barriers.
The report accused the group of obstructing the entry of food, medicine, fuel, oxygen cylinders, and drinking water, as well as blocking relief convoys and commercial supplies, including chronic disease medications and child vaccines.
It warned that blocking the fuel required to operate generators for hospitals, cancer treatment centers, and kidney dialysis units threatens patients' lives, noting that the escalation has caused the displacement of around 280,000 people from the governorate.
The network said the Houthis also turned five schools into operations rooms and detention centers.
It demanded that Taiz be declared a disaster city, calling for an end to the attacks, the lifting of the siege, the opening of roads, and guaranteed access to aid.
