Severe Security Tension in West Taiz Following Sudden Clashes Between Tarek Saleh’s Forces and Tribal Gunmen
Yemen Monitor / Taiz / Exclusive:
Al-Wazi’iyah District, west of Taiz Governorate, witnessed an escalation in tension on Friday between tribal gunmen and forces affiliated with the National Resistance led by Tarek Saleh. This follows the downing of a reconnaissance drone that residents stated was flying over residential and mountainous areas in the district.
Local sources told Yemen Monitor those confrontations erupted following disputes and mutual accusations between the two sides. The sources indicated that tribal gunmen announced they had shot down a reconnaissance drone over villages in the district, while the tribes accuse Tarek Saleh’s forces of shelling populated areas during the past hours.
According to the sources, the gunmen launched a surprise attack on security checkpoints belonging to Saleh’s forces and seized control of several of them. They also regained control of the Al-Rawajib mountain range following the withdrawal of the security campaign forces from some positions.
Clashes renewed in the Al-Hadharah area using light and medium weapons, while the Al-Mateen area witnessed an attack targeting a security point belonging to Lt. Gen. Tarek Saleh’s forces, coinciding with the expansion of confrontations in the vicinity of neighboring villages.
This escalation follows an incident involving the interception of a humanitarian organization working in the district, which widened the rift of tension between the residents and the forces deployed in the area.
Local residents have demanded urgent intervention from the state and Taiz Axis to impose the authority of state institutions and halt what they described as “escalating security lawlessness” in Al-Wazi’iyah, emphasizing the necessity of restoring stability and ending the tension between the conflicting parties.
In the midst of these events, the Paramount Sheikh of Al-Wazi’iyah, Munassar Al-Mashwali, called for the immediate withdrawal of the security campaign forces from village entrances. He asserted that de-escalation and opening the door to dialogue represent the optimal path to reaching fair solutions that end the state of tension.
The security campaign operates under the command of the National Resistance forces, led by Presidential Leadership Council member Tarek Saleh, who is backed by the United Arab Emirates.
