The Yemeni Center Condemns the Houthi Targeting of Civilian Vehicles Carrying Displaced Families in Taiz Governorate

The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) condemns in the strongest terms the targeting by the Houthi militia, on Monday, September 7, 2026, using a ballistic missile, of civilian vehicles in the Al-Ghail area, north of Al-Wazi’iyah district in Taiz governorate, while they were transporting and evacuating displaced families from escalation zones imposed by the Houthi militia, in a dangerous attack targeting civilians who were seeking to flee danger zones and reach safer places.

According to field information received by the Yemeni Center, the targeting occurred during the movement of civilian vehicles carrying displaced families as part of an evacuation process aimed at rescuing civilians and moving them away from zones of escalation and military operations. This resulted in the injury of several citizens and exposed the lives of displaced families, including women and children, to grave danger.

The Yemeni Center considers that targeting civilian vehicles while evacuating displaced persons represents a highly dangerous incident, particularly given that the attacker was aware of the civilian nature of the vehicles and the persons aboard, and that the reason for their displacement from their homes was the severe Houthi violations and blatant aggression carried out by the Houthi militia since September 3. Civilians fleeing combat areas in search of safety cannot be turned into military targets, nor does forced displacement resulting from escalation justify in any way targeting families while they attempt to survive and reach safer areas.

The Yemeni Center warns that deliberately targeting evacuation routes or vehicles carrying civilians from danger zones deprives the population of one of their most basic rights—fleeing conflict zones—and places displaced families before two fatal options: remaining in escalation zones or risking their lives while attempting to flee.

The Yemeni Center affirms that women, children, and civilians in general enjoy protection under the rules of international humanitarian law, and that the Houthi militia is obligated under all circumstances to distinguish between civilians and civilian objects on one hand, and military targets on the other. Erada Organization also stresses that any deliberate targeting of civilians or civilian vehicles, or any attack that fails to observe the principles of distinction, proportionality, and feasible precautions, must be subject to investigation and accountability, and those responsible must not escape punishment.

The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) demands an independent, impartial, and urgent investigation into the targeting incident to reveal its circumstances, determine the source of the missile and the launching entity, verify the nature of the targeted object, and identify those responsible for issuing and executing the attack.

The Yemeni Center also demands the disclosure of the number of injured persons and their health conditions, ensuring all victims receive necessary medical care, providing protection for survivors and displaced families, and professionally and independently documenting the testimonies of the injured and witnesses.

The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) calls on the United Nations, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and relevant international entities to document this incident as part of the violations to which civilians in Taiz governorate are subjected, and to work toward ensuring that those responsible for targeting civilians do not escape accountability.

The Yemeni Center holds the Houthi militia responsible for any violations proven by investigations, emphasizing that using military force against vehicles transporting displaced civilians—if proven deliberate or failing to respect rules protecting civilians—represents a grave violation that cannot be justified under any military or political pretext. Targeting those fleeing death is an assault on the human right to survive, and converting evacuation vehicles into military targets multiplies the suffering of civilians and threatens the lives of displaced families who have no choice left but to seek a safe place.

The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) affirms that protecting civilians is neither an option nor a privilege granted by parties to the conflict, but rather a legal and humanitarian obligation that cannot be evaded. The blood of civilians, including women and children, is not an arena for settling scores or achieving military gains.

The Yemeni Center calls for an immediate halt to any targeting of civilians, evacuation vehicles, and displacement routes, guaranteeing safe corridors for civilians fleeing escalation zones, and holding accountable anyone proven to be involved in targeting them. Fleeing war must not be a cause of death. Vehicles of the displaced must not be turned into targets for missiles. Protecting civilians is a responsibility that is not subject to a statute of limitations and does not lapse under any justification.

Issued by: The Yemeni Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violations and Torture (Will and Hope) Wednesday, September 9, 2026 – Republic of Yemen