Monitoring Violations in Taiz

24,970 violations documented by the Information Center over ten years of war in Taiz… Houthis top the list

Monitoring Violations in Taiz

Taiz – Human Rights Information and Training Center (HRITC)

The Human Rights Information and Training Center (HRITC) issued a field report titled “Taiz… Ten Years of Unending War” The report documented **24,970 violations** targeting civilians and property in Taiz Governorate over ten years of war, from the Houthi militia’s invasion of the governorate on March 21, 2015, until March 31, 2025.

The report revealed that the Houthi group topped the list of perpetrators, committing **22,485 violations**, accounting for **90%** of the total violations. This was followed by armed groups outside the state framework with **1,076 violations (4.3%)**, then unidentified gunmen with **668 violations (2.7%)**. Government forces were recorded with **472 violations (1.9%)**, the Arab Coalition for Supporting Legitimacy with **106 violations (0.4%)**, and another **106 violations (0.4%)** occurred due to clashes between armed groups outside the state framework and the Resistance/Army.
Additionally, **48 violations (0.2%)** were monitored by the Joint Forces, and **9 violations (0.04%)** were attributed to the US-British Coalition airstrikes.

Monitoring Violations in Taiz

First: The Right to Life

Killed:

The violations resulted in the killing of **3,600 civilians**, including **268 women and 581 children**. According to the report, the Houthi militia is responsible for killing **2,890 civilians**, including **251 women and 510 children**.

Among the victims: **288 civilians** were killed by sniping (including 117 women, 50 children); **1,615** by rocket and artillery shelling (including 81 women, 313 children); **154** were assassinated; **311** were killed by mines and IEDs (including 25 women, 50 children); **15** died under torture (including 2 children); while **one** detainee committed suicide due to brutal torture.

The Houthi militia also caused the death of **453 civilians** by direct gunfire (including 23 women, 61 children); executed **16 civilians** (including one child); killed **23 civilians** (including 2 women, 9 children) by drone strikes; killed **5 civilians** by burning (2 women, 3 children); killed **4 others** by being run over; killed **two civilians** (one woman) by stabbing with a sharp tool; killed **two** by exploding live ammunition; and killed **one** civilian by remnants of projectiles.

Armed groups outside the state framework caused the death of **249 civilians**, including **9 women and 25 children**. Around **191 civilians** were killed by direct gunfire (including 7 women, 16 children); **23 civilians** (including 2 children) were killed during clashes between armed groups outside the state framework; **17 civilians** (including 4 children) were killed by IED explosions; **8 civilians** were killed by sniping; **3 civilians** (including one woman) were executed; **2 children** were killed by artillery shelling; **two civilians** were tortured to death; **one** civilian was killed by stabbing with a sharp tool; **one woman** was run over by a military convoy; and **one child** was killed by stray bullets.

**100 killings** were attributed to factions and individuals within the government army, including **3 women and 9 children**. **79 civilians** (including 2 women, 3 children) were killed by direct gunfire; **7 civilians** (including one woman, 3 children) by artillery shelling; **3 civilians** (including 2 children) were run over by a military convoy; **3 civilians** died due to brutal torture; and **two civilians** were assassinated.
**224 killings** were carried out by unidentified gunmen, including **3 women and 11 children**. Around **153** were killed by direct gunfire (including one woman, one child); **46** by bombs and IEDs (including 5 children); **12 civilians** were assassinated; **7 civilians** (including 3 children, one woman) were killed by stray bullets; **two civilians** (including one child) were slaughtered; **two civilians** were stabbed with a sharp tool; **one child** was executed; and **one woman** was hanged and burned.

**76 civilians** were killed by Arab Coalition airstrikes, including **2 women and 23 children**. The Joint Forces caused the death of **10 civilians** by direct gunfire. **49 civilians** (including one child) were killed during clashes between armed groups outside the state framework and the Resistance/Army. **Two children** were killed by US-British Coalition airstrikes.

Injured:

The total documented injuries during the same period were **12,369 civilians**, including **1,112 women and 3,456 children**.

**11,406 civilians** were injured (including 458 women, 1,490 children) as a result of violations by the Houthis alone. **9,135 civilians** (including 259 women, 1,252 children) were injured by artillery and rocket shelling; **718 civilians** (including 78 women, 84 children) by sniping; **195 civilians** (including 36 women, 55 children) by mines and IEDs; **747 civilians** (including 23 women, 32 children) by direct gunfire; **458 civilians** (including 40 women, 35 children) by indirect gunfire.

**44 civilians** (including 3 women, 9 children) were injured by Houthi militia drone strikes.
**85 civilians** (including 15 women, 18 children) were injured by hand grenade explosions; **4 civilians** (including 2 children, one woman) were injured by being run over by a military convoy; **3 civilians** (including one woman, 2 children) suffocated by anti-fire smoke; **3 civilians** were injured by exploding live ammunition; **one woman** was injured by an exploding projectile; **one child** was injured by exploding Houthi remnants; and **12 civilians** (including one woman) were injured by assault/beating.

Armed groups outside the state framework caused **494 injuries**, including **17 women and 40 children**. **355** were injured by direct gunfire (including 16 women, 22 children); **43 civilians** by IEDs (including one woman, 4 children); **35 civilians** by hand grenades (including 9 children); **31 civilians** (including 2 children) were injured by assault; **14 civilians** by sniping; **10 civilians** (including 3 children) were injured by being run over by a military convoy; **4 civilians** by shelling; and **two civilians** were injured during clashes between armed groups outside the state framework.

**193 injuries** were attributed to unidentified gunmen, including **3 women and 14 children**. Around **90 civilians** were injured by IEDs (including 4 children); **78 civilians** by direct gunfire (including 4 children); **14 civilians** (including 3 women, 5 children) by stray bullets; **7 civilians** were injured by hand grenade explosions; **3 civilians** were injured by stabbing with a sharp tool; and **one child** was injured during an attempted kidnapping.

**187 injuries** were recorded as a result of violations by individuals and factions within the Army, including **10 women and 46 children**. **106 civilians** (including 6 women, 6 children) were injured by direct gunfire; **36 civilians** (including 3 women, 25 children) by artillery shelling; clashes between factions/individuals in the government army caused injuries to **13 civilians** (including 3 children, one woman); a weapons store explosion caused injuries to **12 civilians** (including 5 children); **10 civilians** (including 3 children) were injured by assault; **5 civilians** (including 3 children) were injured by being run over by a military convoy; **4 civilians** were injured by modified weapons; and **one child** was injured by an IED explosion.

**49 injuries** (including one child) were monitored during clashes between armed groups outside the state framework and the Army/Resistance. Additionally, **21 injuries** (including 3 children) were caused by the Joint Forces: **19 civilians** (including 3 children) by direct gunfire from Tariq Saleh’s forces; **one civilian** by direct gunfire from Brigadier Haitham Qassim’s forces; and **one other civilian** by being run over by a military convoy.
**12 injuries** were monitored from Arab Coalition airstrikes, and **7 children** were injured by US-British Coalition airstrikes.

Bloody Massacres:

The Center documented **92 bloody massacres** over ten years. The Houthi militia committed **80 massacres**, resulting in the killing of **172 civilians** (including 15 women, 41 children) and the injury of **369 civilians** (including 18 women, 100 children).

The report also recorded **7 massacres** committed by the Arab Coalition, killing **71 civilians** (including 19 children, 2 women). Armed groups outside the state committed **3 massacres**, killing **two civilians** (including one girl) and injuring **16 civilians** (including 3 children, 2 women).

**One massacre** was committed by the Army, killing **one child** and injuring **21 civilians** (including 17 children, one woman). Unidentified gunmen committed **one massacre**, injuring **6 civilians**.

Assassinations:

**154 assassination cases** were monitored, including **6 failed attempts**. These were distributed as follows: Houthi militia (**3 cases**), armed groups outside the state (**22 cases**), and unidentified gunmen (**129 cases**, including 5 attempts).

Kidnapping and Enforced Disappearance:

Cases of kidnapping and enforced disappearance reached **632 cases**. **492 cases** were by the Houthis, including **2 children and 3 collective cases**. **82 cases** were recorded by armed groups outside the state, **29 cases** by the government army, **15 cases** by unidentified persons, and **14 cases** by the Joint Forces.

Assaults:

The Center recorded **122 assault cases**: **37 cases** carried out by the Houthi militia, **37 other cases** by armed groups outside the state framework, **34 cases** by Army individuals, **13 cases** by unidentified persons, and **one case** by the Joint Forces against a child.

Torture:

Torture cases reached **117 cases**. **98 cases** were by the Houthis, during which **15 civilians** (including 2 children) died, and **one victim** committed suicide. **Two** were tortured to death by armed groups outside the state framework. **10 cases** were attributed to the government army, **3** of whom died due to torture.

Monitoring Violations in Taiz

Second: Human Rights Violations

Freedom of Opinion and Expression:

**87 violations** of freedom of opinion and expression were monitored: **18** carried out by the Houthis, **31** by armed groups outside the state, **28** by the Army, and **10** by unidentified gunmen.

Arrests:

Documented arrests totaled **73 cases**: **55 cases** by the Houthis (including 20 women and 3 collective cases), **12 cases** by the Army, **3 cases** by unidentified persons, **2 cases** by the Joint Forces, and **one case** by armed groups outside the state framework.

Displacement and Forced Eviction:

The Center monitored the displacement and forced eviction of approximately **4,490 families** due to shelling, invasion, and landmine planting by the Houthi militia.

Public and Private Property:

**3,231 cases** of violations against public and private property were monitored.
**Total public property violations:** Approximately **236 facilities, buildings, and public properties**. The Houthi militias caused **188 violations** of these. Armed groups outside the state framework caused **22 violations**. The Army caused **17 violations**. Unidentified gunmen caused **8 violations**. Clashes between armed groups outside the state framework and the Resistance/Army caused **one violation** of public property.

**Total private property violations:** Approximately **2,995 violations** against private property. The Houthi militia caused violations of **2,725 private properties**, including **1,645 homes**: **443 homes** were completely destroyed/damaged; **881 homes** were partially damaged; **197 homes** were blown up; **62 homes** were looted; **16 homes** were burned; **12 homes** were booby-trapped; **16 homes** were stormed; and **18 homes** were seized.

The militia’s violations affected **731 vehicles**: **303 vehicles** were completely damaged and **353** partially damaged due to shelling and gunfire; **25 vehicles** were looted; **38 vehicles** were burned; and **12 others** were impounded. The militia damaged **172 private facilities**. **177 other violation cases** were monitored, including **4 cases** of collective property violations.

Armed groups outside the state framework caused **126 violation cases** affecting private property, including **43 homes**, **11 private facilities**, **72 vehicles**, and **16 other properties**.
Individuals within the government army caused **54 violation cases** affecting private property, including **29 homes**, **3 private facilities**, **22 vehicles**, and **7 other properties**.
Unidentified gunmen caused **72 cases**, including **38 homes**, **2 private facilities**, **32 vehicles**, and **3 other properties**.

The Arab Coalition caused **11 violation cases** against private property: **3 homes and 3 facilities** were completely damaged, and **5 homes** were partially damaged due to airstrikes.
Clashes between armed groups outside the state framework and the Resistance/Army caused **7 violation cases**, including the burning of **5 buildings** and damage to **two collective cases** involving several homes and vehicles by gunfire.
The Information and Rehabilitation Center for Human Rights documented **3 other cases** of violations committed by the Houthi militia affecting civilians: **two cases** of child rape and **one collective case** of child recruitment.