Military commander affiliated with Islah party injured in assassination attempt in Taiz

TAIZ, July 19 (YPA) – A military commander loyal to the Islah party was injured on Sunday in an assassination attempt on the southwestern countryside of Taiz, local sources reported.

Local sources said that gunmen in al-Mawasd district ambushed Raif al-Yousfi, the leader of the so-called “resistance”, one of the military wings of the Islah party, Yemeni branch of Muslim brotherhood, in al-Ain area, noting that al-Yousfi was hit by gunshots and was taken to hospital.

A number of his companions were also injured in the operation, one of the sources added.

Al-Yousfi is the second Islamist leader to be targeted in 12 hours.

According to the sources, an attempt to break into the house of General Abdo Numan al-Zuriqi triggered widespread clashes that continued until now.

This comes amid intense fighting with pro-UAE factions.

On Saturday, Fierce clashes broke out between the Saudi-led aggression coalition factions in al-Shamaytin District, south of Taiz .

The sources affirmed that the “35th Brigade” gunmen backed by Tarik Afash” forces loyal to the UAE, targeted a number of military sites belonging to the “Islah Party” militants in the city of al-Turbah city in the same district.

The sources added that the mutual shelling between the two sides targeted many residential neighborhoods, including the Khalifa Hospital, which various weapons were used in the confrontations.

Earlier in the day, the commander of the 35th Brigade Habib Ali Al-Dabhani’s son, with another recruit were killed in an attack waged by the Saudi-backed Islah militants, on a military checkpoint in al-Shamaytin district.

These developments indicate that the factions of the Emirates led by Tariq Saleh decided to fight the Islah militants in al-Hujarya area, based on a popular demonstration organized by pro-Emirati forces in the al-Turbah, earlier this week.

E.M