Marib (South24 Center)

---

Adel al-Rouhani, a leader in the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (al-Islah Party), the Yemeni branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, was seriously injured on Wednesday (March 18) in an assassination attempt in Marib. The attack resulted in the deaths of three of his guards, according to local and party sources.

Local sources stated that gunmen in two vehicles intercepted the vehicle carrying al-Rouhani and opened fire. This led to the immediate death of three guards, while al-Rouhani sustained several gunshot wounds and was subsequently transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The sources added that the incident occurred in Al-Wadi district while al-Rouhani was returning to Marib after performing Umrah.

In a statement issued the same day, the Islah party condemned the attack, describing it as a "treacherous terrorist crime."

The statement, published on the Facebook page of the head of the party's High Authority, Mohamed al-Yadomi, noted that the operation targeted the head of the party's technical department and resulted in the deaths of three guards, while offering condolences to the victims' families.

The party held the security authorities in Marib fully responsible, demanding the swift arrest of the perpetrators and their delivery to justice. It also called for a "transparent and serious" investigation to uncover the circumstances of the incident and the parties behind it.

The statement pointed out that the incident is part of what it described as a "series of assassinations" that have targeted party leaders and members over the past years while they were supporting state institutions.

The party did not direct accusations at any specific party, and the local authorities in Marib did not issue an immediate comment at the time of writing.

Al-Rouhani is a member of the party's General Secretariat and heads its technical department. He has resided in Marib since leaving Sana'a in 2015 following the Houthi takeover of the city.

In a separate security incident, local sources told South24 Center that the convoy of the commander of the 2nd "Nation’s Shield" Brigade, Mohammed al-Zaidi, was targeted by an IED explosion on Tuesday evening (March 17) while passing through the Ayaz area in Shabwa governorate.

The sources added that the blast resulted in the injury of three of al-Zaidi's guards, with no confirmation regarding his own condition.