Daijiworld Media Network – Taiz
Taiz, Jul 13: In a tragic incident that underscores the lingering dangers of Yemen's civil war, at least five children were killed after an explosive device detonated in a residential area where they were playing football, rights groups and witnesses confirmed on Saturday.
The blast occurred late Friday in the al-Hashmah subdistrict of Taiz province, southwestern Yemen. While the exact circumstances remain unclear, multiple sources — including the Yemen Center for Human Rights, Eye of Humanity, and Houthi-run Al Masirah TV — allege that an artillery shell was fired by militias backed by the Islah party, which supports Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Local residents Ahmed al-Sharee and Khaled al-Areki told the Associated Press that the explosion happened while the children were engaged in a game of football. At least three others suffered injuries ranging from minor to moderate and were rushed to hospital.
Another witness, Mahmoud al-Mansi, claimed the explosive originated from an area under the control of Islah-allied forces. The Yemen Center for Human Rights, in a statement accompanied by graphic images, said the victims succumbed to shrapnel wounds and arrived unresponsive at al-Rafai Hospital.
Among the victims were two 12-year-olds and two 14-year-olds. The age of the fifth child remains unknown.
The United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, acknowledged awareness of the incident but said it could not independently verify the details at this stage.
Taiz city, long a hotspot in Yemen's ongoing conflict, remains deeply scarred by years of siege, warfare, and humanitarian crisis. The area has seen regular clashes between Houthi forces and factions supported by the Islah party.
Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when the Houthi rebels took control of the capital Sanaa, prompting the internationally recognised government to flee. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015, but peace remains elusive despite a 2022 ceasefire.
While large-scale fighting has reduced in recent years, this latest incident serves as a grim reminder of the continuing threats to civilians — particularly children — in conflict zones.