Latest news with #YemenCentreforHumanRights
Yemen Online
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
"They were playing soccer " ... Blast in Yemen kills 5 children who
Aden - Five children in southwestern Yemen died after an explosive device detonated in a residential area where they were playing soccer, rights groups and eye witnesses said Saturday. The circumstances surrounding their deaths on Friday night in the Al-Hashmah subdistrict of Taiz province remain unclear. However, the Yemen Centre for Human Rights and another rights group called Eye of Humanity along with Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV said an artillery shell was fired by militias backed by the Islah party, which is allied to the internationally recognised government in south Yemen. A spokesperson for the United Nations children's agency UNICEF told The Associated Press that they are aware of reports about the incident but can't verify the facts at the moment. Two local residents who were eyewitnesses, Ahmed al-Sharee and Khaled al-Areki, told the AP that the children were playing soccer when the explosion happened. At least three people with minor to moderate injuries were also taken to the hospital, according to the eyewitnesses. Meanwhile, Mahmoud al-Mansi, another eyewitness, said the explosive was directed from an area where forces allied with the Islah party were present. The Yemen Centre for Human Rights condemned the incident in a report that included graphic photos of the children's torn bodies. Citing healthcare sources at Al-Rafai Hospital, where the victims arrived unresponsive, the group said they died from shrapnel injuries. Two of the children were 12 years old, while two others were 14 years old, according to the group. The age of the fifth child is unknown. At least three people with minor to moderate injuries were also taken to the hospital, according to the eyewitnesses. Meanwhile, Mahmoud al-Mansi, another eyewitness, said the explosive was directed from an area where forces allied with the Islah party were present. The Yemen Centre for Human Rights condemned the incident in a report that included graphic photos of the children's torn bodies. Citing healthcare sources at Al-Rafai Hospital, where the victims arrived unresponsive, the group said they died from shrapnel injuries. Two of the children were 12 years old, while two others were 14 years old, according to the group. The age of the fifth child is unknown. Taiz city, the capital of the province of the same name, has been a battleground, pitting the Iran-backed Houthi militias and other militias backed by the Islah party against each other and other factions in Yemen's civil war. The city was under Houthi blockade since 2016, restricting the freedom of movement and flow of essential goods to residents, but Houthis recently opened key roads.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Yemen tragedy: Five boys killed in blast while playing football; artillery shell fired by militias
Five children were killed on Friday night after an explosive device detonated in a residential area of Yemen's Taiz province, rights groups and eyewitnesses confirmed on Saturday. The blast occurred in the Al-Hashmah subdistrict as the children were playing football. The Yemen Centre for Human Rights, Eye of Humanity, and Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV alleged the explosion was caused by an artillery shell fired by militias backed by the Islah party, which supports Yemen's internationally recognised government in the south. The United Nations children's agency UNICEF said it was aware of reports about the incident but was unable to verify the details. Eyewitnesses Ahmed al-Sharee and Khaled al-Areki told the Associated Press that the children were in the middle of a football game when the explosion took place. At least three others were also injured and taken to hospital with minor to moderate wounds. Another witness, Mahmoud al-Mansi, said the explosive appeared to have been launched from a location controlled by Islah-aligned forces. The Yemen Centre for Human Rights condemned the incident, releasing a report containing graphic images of the victims. Citing medical staff at Al-Rafai Hospital, the group said the children died from shrapnel injuries. Two were aged 12 and two were 14. The age of the fifth child is still unknown. Taiz, the provincial capital, remains a major flashpoint in Yemen's civil war. It has long seen fighting between Iran-backed Houthi forces and militias supported by the Islah party. The city had been under Houthi blockade since 2016, cutting off movement and basic supplies, though key routes have recently been reopened. Yemen's civil war erupted in 2014 when the Houthis took control of the capital Sanaa, prompting the internationally recognised government to flee. A Saudi-led coalition entered the conflict the following year in an attempt to restore the government. Meanwhile, the south remains deeply divided. The Southern Transitional Council, backed by the UAE and advocating for southern independence, controls large parts of the region and maintains its own militia forces.
