Aden (South24)

The National Resistance forces announced on Saturday (June 6) the death of the Commander of the First Division, Brigadier General Yahya Wahish, along with one of his escorts, while two others were wounded following an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion that targeted his convoy in Al-Khawkhah district, south of Hodeidah Governorate. 

In an official statement, the National Resistance reported that the IED detonated as Brigadier General Wahish’s convoy was passing near military positions belonging to the First Division. The blast resulted in his immediate death, alongside one of the escorting soldiers, and left two others injured. 

The forces accused the Houthi group of orchestrating the attack, noting that the IED "bears Houthi hallmarks." No immediate comment has been issued by the group regarding these accusations. 

The National Resistance confirmed that Brigadier General Wahish had been appointed Commander of the First Division just last month, as part of a restructuring and redeployment process of the forces across the West Coast fronts. 

For his part, Sadiq Dwaid, the official spokesperson for the National Resistance, declared that "the blood of Brigadier General Yahya Wahish will not be shed in vain," stressing that those responsible for the attack "will not escape punishment." 

Furthermore, Walid Al-Qudaimi, Minister of State in the Yemeni government, mourned the loss of Brigadier General Wahish. Writing on the "X" platform, he noted that the deceased was a prominent military commander whose stances "will remain deeply ingrained in the hearts of the people of Tihama and the wider Yemeni public." 

The "Shield of the Nation" forces (Deraa al-Watan) also issued a eulogy for Brigadier General Wahish, describing him as one of the key field commanders who played a prominent role in the battles confronting the Houthis over the past years. 

Brigadier General Yahya Wahish was considered one of the most prominent military leaders emerging from the Tihama Resistance. Following the outbreak of the war, he actively participated in establishing several anti-Houthi military formations along the West Coast. 

This attack comes amid a period of relative calm across the West Coast fronts compared to previous war years. This is due to the ongoing unannounced truce, which has mitigated direct military confrontations between government forces and the Houthis since 2022, despite sporadic security incidents and isolated attacks continuing in certain areas.