ALBAWABA- An improvised explosive device detonated on Thursday in front of the headquarters of the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah) on Jamal Street in central Taiz, killing three civilians and injuring at least 13 others, including women and a child, local authorities and party officials said.
According to preliminary information, a bus driver in Taiz had transported a shipment containing a solar panel and battery from Aden and handed it over to a motorcycle driver, identified as Mohammed Hamadi, for delivery to a residence on Jamal Street. Hamadi was reportedly accompanied by his young son. Investigators later discovered that an explosive device had been concealed inside the shipment.
The device exploded at the gate of the Islah Party headquarters, a busy area in downtown Taiz, causing civilian casualties. Among those killed was Ibrahim Al-Shiraei, identified as a local Islah leader. Hamadi’s son was among the injured.
In a statement, the Islah Executive Office in Taiz condemned what it described as a “treacherous and heinous crime” targeting a civilian political party operating within Yemen’s constitutional framework.
The party said the blast killed three people and wounded 13 others, some critically, offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Islah called on security authorities to swiftly arrest those responsible and bring them to justice, stressing that such attacks would not deter it from its national role.
Taiz police said security forces have arrested several suspects in connection with the bombing and that operations are ongoing to track down remaining individuals linked to the attack. Authorities pledged to complete legal procedures and refer all suspects to the competent judicial bodies.
Police also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening security measures to protect civilians and maintain public order, urging residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
The director general of Taiz police praised criminal investigation units, forensic teams, and security personnel for their swift response and efforts in uncovering the circumstances of the attack.
Unverified claims circulating on social media have suggested that UAE-backed groups may be behind the bombing, but these allegations have not been confirmed by authorities.
The claims have emerged amid heightened tensions between segments of the Yemeni public and the United Arab Emirates over its support for the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), its role in moves affecting Hadramout and Al-Mahra, and the designation of Yemen’s Islah party, affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, as a terrorist organization.
Such accusations reflect the broader escalation among rival factions aligned with external powers, a dynamic that has helped prolong Yemen’s conflict for more than a decade.
