Grundberg: Houthi Attack in Taiz Causes Civilian Casualties and Threatens Residents

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The United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said on Friday that the military escalation carried out by the Houthis in Taiz Governorate has resulted in civilian casualties, damaged infrastructure, and closed roads, warning of serious risks to the population.

Grundberg stated in a statement that his office received "extremely concerning" reports of casualties, damage to infrastructure, and road closures, which hinder the ability of civilians to leave combat areas.

The UN envoy called on the Houthis to halt their military offensive and urged all parties to protect civilians and civilian facilities and ensure the safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid.

He noted that Taiz Governorate currently hosts the majority of Yemenis who have recently been displaced due to fighting in other areas, which increases the severity of the humanitarian risks resulting from the escalation.

This comes as fighting continues to escalate in Taiz and other areas, amid new waves of displacement linked to the confrontations, according to the United Nations.

The international organization reported in September that thousands of families have been displaced from Taiz and areas in southern Hodeidah as fighting intensified.

Earlier on Thursday, the President of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Alimi, stated that the Houthi group, following what he described as "repeated failures and significant losses" on the battlefields, is trying to compensate for its field shortcomings by launching a wide psychological war.

He said that Taiz "has been and will remain one of the great national strongholds," adding that attempts to subdue it or break its will "will fail as they have in the past."