Fierce clashes in Taiz ahead of Yemen ceasefire
Fierce clashes in Taiz ahead of Yemen ceasefire
Central Yemen city sees heavy clashes with Saudi airstrikes continuing to target Houthi positions, hours before a proposed humanitarian cease-fire due to come into effect.
3 min read
Local forces are resisting the Houthi-Saleh advance in Taiz (Getty)
Violent armed clashes continued in the central Yemeni city of Taiz on Tuesday, only hours ahead of a scheduled humanitarian ceasefire, set to start at 11 pm local time.
The clashes, which were accompanied by airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition on different Houthi sites in Taiz, took place between local militias and army units allied to Yemen's exiled president Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi on one side, and Houthi militiamen and allied army units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh on the other.
Eyewitnesses said that the coalition focused six of its 21 airstrikes on the ancient al-Qahira citadel, which Houthi and Saleh forces are using as a base to shell the city from.
The Coaltion led by Saudi Arabiaalso targeted Houthi-Saleh forces stationed inside public facilities and state institutions in the city's western areas of Sayna and al-Muroor, including the buildings of the Criminal Investigation Unit and the Department of Traffic and Passports, as well as their military equipment stored in the hallways of the al-Hassab Technical Institute.
A security source in Taiz, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told al-Araby al-Jadeed that the Arab coalition's airstrikes managed to destroy many government buildings where Houthi militias were holed up.
According to the source, the airstrikes also caused 42 deaths and dozens of injuries among the Houthi-Saleh forces.
On the other hand, locals said that three airstrikes targeted areas outside of Houthi control, completely destroying a residential building and eight houses in the city's western area of Wadi al-Duha. Several sources said that the airstrikes left 15 civilians dead and a number of injuries.
The ground clashes followed the airstrikes, with reports that the local anti-Houthi militia captured a number of Houthis and took over Sayna before withdrawing.
A member of the militia, called the Popular Resistance, said that the withdrawal was due to the deployment of two tanks in the area, as well as gunfire from Houthi snipers deployed on rooftops.
Another local source said that the Houthi militias stormed the al-Hikmah al-Yamaniyah charity association in Sayna after expelling its guards and taking positions in the building.
In addition, tanks deployed by Houthi-Saleh forces and stationed in the Presidential Palace, as well as the Damgha checkpoint and the al-Qahira citadel, continued their heavy attacks on different areas of the city after losing control voer them. The shelling left dozens of dead and injured, according to field activists.
The shelling focused on Jabal Jarra, west of the city, as well as the villages of Qarada, near military sites controlled by the Popular Resistance in Mount Sabr, which overlooks the city from the east.
Residents in Taiz called on the international community to take action and stop the shelling.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
The clashes, which were accompanied by airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition on different Houthi sites in Taiz, took place between local militias and army units allied to Yemen's exiled president Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi on one side, and Houthi militiamen and allied army units loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh on the other.
Eyewitnesses said that the coalition focused six of its 21 airstrikes on the ancient al-Qahira citadel, which Houthi and Saleh forces are using as a base to shell the city from.
The Coaltion led by Saudi Arabiaalso targeted Houthi-Saleh forces stationed inside public facilities and state institutions in the city's western areas of Sayna and al-Muroor, including the buildings of the Criminal Investigation Unit and the Department of Traffic and Passports, as well as their military equipment stored in the hallways of the al-Hassab Technical Institute.
A security source in Taiz, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told al-Araby al-Jadeed that the Arab coalition's airstrikes managed to destroy many government buildings where Houthi militias were holed up.
According to the source, the airstrikes also caused 42 deaths and dozens of injuries among the Houthi-Saleh forces.
On the other hand, locals said that three airstrikes targeted areas outside of Houthi control, completely destroying a residential building and eight houses in the city's western area of Wadi al-Duha. Several sources said that the airstrikes left 15 civilians dead and a number of injuries.
The ground clashes followed the airstrikes, with reports that the local anti-Houthi militia captured a number of Houthis and took over Sayna before withdrawing.
A member of the militia, called the Popular Resistance, said that the withdrawal was due to the deployment of two tanks in the area, as well as gunfire from Houthi snipers deployed on rooftops.
Another local source said that the Houthi militias stormed the al-Hikmah al-Yamaniyah charity association in Sayna after expelling its guards and taking positions in the building.
In addition, tanks deployed by Houthi-Saleh forces and stationed in the Presidential Palace, as well as the Damgha checkpoint and the al-Qahira citadel, continued their heavy attacks on different areas of the city after losing control voer them. The shelling left dozens of dead and injured, according to field activists.
The shelling focused on Jabal Jarra, west of the city, as well as the villages of Qarada, near military sites controlled by the Popular Resistance in Mount Sabr, which overlooks the city from the east.
Residents in Taiz called on the international community to take action and stop the shelling.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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