Taiz (South24)

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26.03.2023; 09:40 AM: Official statements from the Yemeni government condemned the attack. However, it mentioned the name of Taiz Governor Nabil Shamsan in the attack, without naming the defense minister and chief of staff. Government statements contained inconsistencies regarding the type of weapon used by the "Houthis" in the attack. For example, the information minister said the attack was carried out by an Iranian-made drone, while the prime minister said the attack was carried out with a heat-seeking missile.

- South24 experts believe the official authorities deliberately did not mention the name of the defense minister, who was accompanied by Saudi official, Major General Sultan al-Baqami, to prevent embarrassing the kingdom, which has secret talks with the Houthis and carries out fast-paced understandings with Iran.

25.03.2023 22:50 PM: - Military sources told "South24 Center" that the Minister of Defense's convoy, which includes Lieutenant General Aziz bin Sagheer and the Saudi Major General Sultan Al-Baqami, was planning to head towards Taiz on Saturday morning

- On the main road towards Taiz, Houthi reconnaissance drones flew over the convoy, which prompted the minister to change his destination. During the return to the city of Mocha, the convoy was bombed by a drone on Al-Waziya road, causing injuries.

- Another attack targeted the Governor of Taiz, Nabil Shamsan, who was planning to join the minister's convoy in Al-Kadha area, southwest of Taiz, causing severe damage to his vehicle.

- The two attacks, and a third attack on a military checkpoint on the same road leading to Taiz, resulted in two deaths and several injuries.

- Later, the Minister of Defense appeared, accompanied by the Chief of Staff and the Saudi Major General, Sultan Al-Baqami, in Bab Al-Mandab area and Mayyun Island.

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The Yemeni Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Mohsen Al-Daari, and senior military officials, survived a drone attack on Saturday morning that targeted the minister's convoy in Taiz governorate, central Yemen.

Military sources told "South24 Center" that a drone targeted the convoy of minister Al-Daari, accompanied by the Chief of Staff and Commander of Joint Operations, Sagheer bin Aziz and the Governor of Taiz Nabil Shamsan, in Al-Kadha area between the cities of Mocha and Taiz. The attack resulted in the death of two soldiers and the wounding of a third.

 

The Yemeni Minister of Defense belongs to Al-Dhalea governorate in South.

The minister was returning from a field visit to the city of Mocha on the Red Sea coast, during which he visited a number of military sites of the Joint Forces.

Approximate location on Google Maps where the Yemeni Minister of Defense was attacked by a drone (South24 extract)

On Friday, Al-Daari met in the city of Mocha, the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) member, Tariq Saleh. Al-Daari was accompanied on the visit by the Saudi military official, Major General Sultan Al-Baqami, according to what the ministry announced on its Twitter page.

 

It was not confirmed whether the Saudi official was in the minister's convoy during the attack.

 

The Yemeni Minister of Information Muammar Al-Eryani condemned the attack and accused the Houthi militia of standing behind it. Al-Eryani said that the attack was carried out by an Iranian-made drone, killing one of the escorts of the Governor of Taiz.

The Houthi group has not yet responded or commented on the attack.

In mid-February, the Houthi-controlled Central Military Court in Sanaa issued death sentences for 30 military commanders opposed to it, including Defense Minister Mohsen Al-Daari.

 

This attack is a dangerous escalation and a development that may undermine all that has been achieved from relative calm during the months following the UN-brokered truce that ended on October 2.

 

In recent days, the Houthis have threatened to target sea ports if what they described as the "siege" on their ports is not lifted, according to statements published by Al-Masirah TV of the Houthi Defense Minister. Although Saudi Arabia has recently granted them extensive concessions in the port of Hodeidah, the port is now receiving ships on a daily basis.

Related: Saudi Arabia Grants The «Houthi Militia» a Major Sea Outlet 

The Houthis are protesting against the UN inspection mechanism in Djibouti, "UNVIM". They threatened to close the UN Envoy's office in Sanaa if the container ship "Lamar" was not released, according to statements published by the so-called deputy foreign minister in the Houthi government, Hussein al-Ezzi.

 

In southern Marib, specifically to the west of Harib district, the Houthis launched an attack on several towns in the first few days of Ramadan, killing 10 soldiers from the Southern Giants and pro-government forces. The Houthis took control of some sites, and there were deaths and injuries among its fighters, according to military sources.

 

Information Minister Al-Eryani said that the Houthi militia's flagrant attack on Harib caused the displacement of hundreds of families.

 

"This is a flagrant violation of efforts to restore calm," the minister said on Twitter.