Houthi Escalation and Grave Violations Against Civilians in Taiz and Hudaydah

Human Rights Statement

The Irada Organization for Combating Torture and Enforced Disappearance strongly condemns the dangerous and ongoing military escalation carried out by the Houthi militia against civilians in Taiz Governorate, particularly in the districts of Maqbanah, Al-Kadha, and Jabal Habashi, and the accompanying missile and artillery shelling, sniper attacks, and attacks using drones, as well as raids, abductions, and looting of homes and property, which have resulted in civilian casualties and widespread forced displacement of the population.

The preliminary and field information monitored by theIrada Organization indicates that, in one incident, the Houthi militia targeted a restaurant in the Al-Mokha Junction area west of Taiz on September 4, 2026, with a ballistic missile, resulting in 3 deaths and 17 injuries, all of whom were civilians, and causing material damage to the restaurant and adjacent property. The Hija Al-Abed road linking the governorates of Taiz and Aden was also targeted on Saturday, September 5, 2026, resulting in the killing of 4 civilians and the injury of 9 others, in an attack that threatens the lives of civilians and travelers and places one of the most important vital arteries for the movement of people and supplies at risk.

According to preliminary information, in the Houthi attacks targeting the villages of Jabal Habashi and Maqbanah, the estimated toll in these incidents is approximately 15 civilians killed and 80 others injured.In Jabal Habashi District, widespread displacement from villages and residential areas continues as a result of the intensification of clashes and the escalation of Houthi shelling, while civilians, including children, have been subjected to direct targeting. Three children and a woman, who is the sister of two of the victims, were injured by sniper fire from the Houthi militia in the Al-Rahbah area of Jabal Habashi District, west of Taiz.

According to sources, the ages of those injured ranged between 7 and 30 years, and their injuries varied, affecting the back, hand, neck, and jaw.

According to the field information available to it, the Irada Organization monitors the displacement of approximately 1,900 families from the districts of Maqbanah and Jabal Habashi since September 3 of this year to various areas, in addition to the displacement of approximately 470 families from Hays and Al-Khokha. These figures constitute an extremely serious indication of the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the Houthi terrorist attacks and the widening scope of forced displacement, which is compelling civilians to leave their homes, camps, and sources of livelihood in search of a safer refuge.

What is taking place in Taiz and Hudaydah cannot be regarded as isolated incidents or merely collateral effects of military operations; rather, it reflects a continuing pattern of violations targeting civilians and civilian objects carried out by the Houthi militia against civilians, exacerbating the suffering of populations who have lived for years under the burden of violence, fear, and displacement.

The Irada Organization warns of the danger of the continued targeting of residential areas and villages, and the resulting killing and injury of civilians, displacement of families, destruction of property, and deprivation of the population of security, food, water, healthcare, and sources of income. It further affirms that any use of civilians as human shields, deliberate targeting of civilians, or launching of indiscriminate attacks that fail to distinguish between civilians and military objectives constitutes a serious violation of the rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law and may, once its legal elements are established, amount to crimes warranting investigation, prosecution, and accountability.

The Irada Organization holds the Houthi militia responsible for the violations established through monitoring and investigation operations and calls for the immediate and unconditional cessation of all shelling and targeting operations affecting civilians, residential areas, and civilian objects, respect for the rules of international humanitarian law, and ensuring the protection of children, women, older persons, and displaced persons.

The Irada Organization also calls on the United Nations, the international community, and human rights and humanitarian organizations to move beyond statements of concern and condemnation toward taking practical and urgent measures to protect civilians, opening independent and transparent investigations into incidents of killing, injury, shelling, abduction, displacement, and looting of property, working to identify those responsible and hold them accountable, and preventing the continued perpetuation of impunity.

The Irada Organization calls on humanitarian actors to provide an urgent and comprehensive response to displaced and affected families, ensuring shelter, food, water, healthcare, and protection, and enabling monitoring teams and human rights and humanitarian organizations to access affected areas and document violations without restrictions.

The Irada Organization affirms that the blood of civilians is not mere numbers, the displacement of families is not a marginal detail, and the targeting of children and residential areas is not an act that can be justified or overlooked. The continuation of these violations in the absence of accountability will only lead to more victims and displacement and further exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe.

Accordingly, the Irada Organization renews its call for urgent and firm international action to halt Houthi violations and protect civilians. It affirms that all documented crimes and violations will remain evidence against their perpetrators, that impunity should not be an available option for any party, and that justice and accountability are a right of victims and a duty of the international community.

Irada Organization against Torture and Enforced Disappearance

Tuesday, September 8, 2026Republic of Yemen