Civilian survives in Taiz shooting

TAIZ, Sept. 21 (YPA) – A civilian survived on Saturday an assassination attempt in the city center of Taiz that the Saudi-led coalition forces are taking over.

Local sources said that an unidentified gunman, believed to be a member of the Islah faction, opened fire on the civilian while he was standing next to his car, which was parked in front of his house near the Zaid al-Mushki school. The car was hit by several bullets.

This came when the city is experiencing widespread public unrest and ongoing protests condemning the deteriorating security situation and the proliferation of armed gangs loyal to the coalition.

In a related development, unknown assailants burned two cars belonging to civilians in the Bir Pasha area, an act of sabotage that adds to the ongoing security chaos in the city resulting from the conflict between the Islah party and the forces loyal to UAE-backed Tariq Afash, nephew the former president Ali Abdullah Selah.

These incidents followed a shooting incident targeting a civilian vehicle in Jabal Habshi last Thursday, in which three civilians, including two women, were wounded by Farouk, the brother of Khalid Fadel, the leader of the Islah-affiliated “Taiz Axis” militia.

Since last Thursday, the streets of Taiz have witnessed widespread unrest and mass protests condemning the escalating security chaos and demanding an investigation into the assassination of the executive director of the Sanitation and Improvement Fund, Afthan al-Mashari, a crime that shocked public opinion, but for which no arrests have been made to date.

The protesters accused members of the coalition, which controls the city, demanding the removal of the coalition-backed authorities.

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