Taiz  – A young girl was killed and her brother seriously injured on Saturday following an artillery strike allegedly carried out by Houthi militias in the Al-Ma’afer district of western Taiz Governorate, according to local sources and eyewitness accounts.

The siblings were reportedly walking near their home when the shell landed in a residential area, causing fatal injuries to the girl and leaving her brother in critical condition. Neighbors rushed the wounded child to Al-Thawra Hospital, where doctors confirmed he sustained shrapnel wounds to the chest and abdomen.

Local officials condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly act targeting civilians” and calling on international organizations to document the incident and hold perpetrators accountable. The strike comes amid a fragile ceasefire and growing concerns over sporadic violations across contested frontlines in Taiz.

Human rights groups have repeatedly warned that densely populated areas in western Taiz remain vulnerable to indirect fire, especially as Houthi forces maintain positions in nearby highlands. 

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has previously identified Taiz as one of the most dangerous provinces for children in Yemen’s ongoing conflict.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for stronger international monitoring and protection mechanisms, particularly in areas where ceasefire violations continue to threaten civilian lives.