Yemen Investigates Alleged Houthi Use of Toxic Shells in Taiz Amid Reports of Casualties

Yemen's government announced Friday that its forces are investigating shells discovered in Taiz, which are suspected of containing toxic substances. The Iran-backed Houthis are alleged to have used these shells, following reports of civilians experiencing suffocation and loss of consciousness. Taiz, located in south-western Yemen, was largely under the control of the internationally recognized government until recent weeks when the Houthis initiated battles to capture the city and its surrounding province, imposing a siege on the city.

A statement from the government indicated that troops are treating field reports from the Taiz front lines with extreme seriousness. These reports concern the alleged use of shells containing toxic substances by the Houthi militia, which reportedly led to cases of suffocation and loss of consciousness among civilians and members of the Popular Resistance. Government forces issued a warning to the Houthi militia against further attacks on civilians or the use of prohibited weapons, emphasizing that protecting civilians and lifting the siege of Taiz remain fundamental responsibilities of the state and its armed forces.

A Yemeni source in Taiz confirmed reports of suffocation cases attributed to the use of toxic substances, though determining the exact circumstances proved difficult. Last year, Yemen’s Minister of Information, Moammar Eryani, had accused the Houthis of manufacturing chemical weapons using smuggled components, based on intelligence from multiple sources. This marked the first direct accusation of its kind from a Yemeni government official. Inquiries made to the office of the UN special envoy to Yemen, as well as US and UK entities involved in Yemen policy, regarding these accusations did not yield a response.