Coalition-backed factions close Haijat Al-Abed Road linking Taiz, Lahj

LAHJ, Nov. 26 (YPA) – The Saudi-led coalition forces has closed the Haijat Al-Abed Road linking Taiz and Lahj province, in a dangerous preliminary step looming on the horizon of carrying out more intrusions and reprisals against unarmed civilians.

According to local sources familiar with the matter said that Islah Party-affiliated armed factions of the” Fourth Brigade funded by the coalition had been waging since last Monday a brutal military campaign, which did not stop shelling the villages of citizens in the Najd al-Bard of Haijat Al-Abed, storming houses, looting property and vehicles, in retaliation for previous confrontations that killed 7 recruits and two residents.

The sources affirmed that these retaliatory attacks came in response to the protests of the residents by cutting off the road to Najd al-Bard and the outbreak of confrontations, due to the failure of the coalition-run local authorities in Taiz to extradite Alawi Al-jubuli, who is accused of killing Wael al-Maqtari” at the end of last August.

These factions not only violated the truce that was agreed with the tribes of Al-Maqtara, but also continued their crimes by kidnapping the wounded “Suhail al-Maridi” from inside al-Thawra General Hospital in Taiz on Wednesday, and taking him to an unknown destination, in flagrant violation of the sanctity of hospitals and protection agreements.

The sources pointed out that the region is witnessed a mass exodus of dozens of women and children from their villages to escape shelling and incursions.

In light of the escalating challenge, the tribes of Al-Maqtara and Al-Sabiha are falling apart to respond to the armed attacks launched by the elements of “Abu Bakr al-jubuli”, amid urgent human rights demands to stop these violations and crimes against civilians in the province by these factions.

AA