Human Rights Violations in Yemen
Taiz: A Decade of Siege and Systematic Violations Against Civilians (2015–2025)
TAIZ | HRITC Report
The Center for Information and Rehabilitation on Human Rights (HRITC) has released a groundbreaking report documenting 25,895 violations against civilians and civilian objects during a full decade of the siege on Taiz. Spanning from July 13, 2015, to July 13, 2025, the siege has exceeded 3,653 days of humanitarian crisis.
The report, titled “A Decade of Siege and Systematic Violations in Taiz,” details the findings of field teams. It highlights that the majority of these human rights violations in Taiz were committed directly by the Houthi militia, alongside other actors within the besieged city amidst the chaos following the coup.
Responsibility Breakdown
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Houthi Militias: 22,570 violations.
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Non-state armed groups: 1,904 violations.
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Unknown gunmen: 674 violations.
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Government army members/factions: 478 violations.
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Arab Coalition: 106 violations.
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Joint Forces (Taiz Coast): 48 violations.
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US-UK Airstrikes: 9 violations.
Casualties: The Human Cost
The report confirms the death of 4,442 civilians, including 270 women and 588 children.
Houthi militias were responsible for 2,901 deaths, categorized as follows:
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289 killed by snipers (including 118 women, 71 children).
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1,616 killed by missile and artillery shelling.
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154 assassinations.
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312 killed by landmines and IEDs.
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15 died under torture.
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454 killed by direct gunfire.
Other actors: Non-state armed groups caused 1,077 deaths, while unknown gunmen accounted for 227. Government forces were linked to 100 deaths, and the Arab Coalition to 76.
Injuries and Permanent Scars
A total of 12,392 civilians were injured, including 490 women and 1,609 children.
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The Houthi militia caused 11,427 of these injuries, primarily through indiscriminate shelling and snipers.
Massacres and Atrocities
The report documented 92 bloody massacres.
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80 massacres were committed by the Houthi militia, resulting in 172 deaths and 369 injuries.
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Other massacres were attributed to the Arab Coalition (7), non-state groups (3), and government/unknown actors (1 each).
Torture and Enforced Disappearance
Human rights violations in Yemen extend to the shadows of detention centers:
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641 cases of kidnapping and enforced disappearance.
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117 documented cases of torture, leading to 20 deaths in custody. The highest percentage of torture occurred within Houthi-run prisons.
Property Damage and Displacement
The war on Taiz has decimated the city’s infrastructure:
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3,276 public properties damaged.
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3,039 private properties (homes, shops, vehicles) destroyed or damaged.
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4,490 families forcibly displaced.
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89 violations against freedom of opinion and expression.
Note: The report also highlights grave violations including child recruitment and sexual assaults against children.
