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Yemen’s Internationally-Backed Government Accuses Putschists of Civilian Massacre in Taiz | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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People carry a man, who was injured during a clashes between tribal fighters and Houthis, in Taiz, Yemen (AP Photo)


Taiz- Yemen’s internationally-backed government headed by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi accused coup militias on Sunday of the ongoing use of civilian lives in Taiz as human shields.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdulmalik Al-Mekhlafi said that four civilians were killed and seven others badly injured in a gruesome massacre caused by militia’s indiscriminate bombardment inside civilian neighborhoods.

“This gang (insurgency militias) always target civilians in retribution,” said Mekhlafi.

“What is the opinion of militia supporters, who trade the blood of civilian victims for political gains in today’s Houthi-staged massacre in Bir Pasha, Taiz,” Mekhlafi said in a tweet.

“The Tihama brigade has managed, in a qualitative intelligence operation, to dismantle a ring specialized in planting landmines and explosives in the coastal Mokha city and its countryside, west of Taiz,” a Tihama brigade official told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“They target citizens, national army forces, and popular resistance troops,” the official said regarding the mines placed by putschists.

The brigade was able to arrest five insurgency members east of a Mokha village.

More so, the official confirmed that the Tihama brigade received information on where the landmine makers were taking up base to prepare preparation of IEDs and mines.

In a surprise attack, Tihama forces killed 18 coupists, destroyed five (BM21) missiles.

On the other hand, the brigade suffered the loss of two soldiers and the injury of five others.
This came at a time when National Army troops assigned to the fifth military zone, backed by Arab coalition air forces, staged an attack on remaining Houthi militia pockets in the eastern front of Midi, in the province of Hajjah adjacent to Saudi Arabia.

National army forces are close to ending the combing operations in eastern Midi neighborhoods, after lifting the coup-imposed siege for months, another military source told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The source also confirmed that dozens of coup members were either killed or wounded in the clashes eastern districts of Midi.

By clearing the eastern side, including the port, the ark, the citadel and the tunnel networks the battles will then move to the Hiran district.