The Yemeni army carries out 27 air strikes on the Taiz fronts and announces the targeting of high-value targets in Sanaa and Saada

On Thursday evening, the Yemeni army announced the implementation of 27 air strikes along the fighting fronts in Taiz Governorate, southwest of Al Bala, targeting sites and gatherings belonging to the Houthi group.

Majid Al-Nuzaili, spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said in a statement, “The raids targeted an integrated Houthi military system, which included a missile warehouse, command and control centers, advanced supply and armament points, in addition to gatherings of the group’s members, vehicles, and military vehicles.”

He explained that the strikes targeted targets on 60th Street, north of the city of Taiz, Bani Omar, and the Himyar Front in Maqbanah District, east of Al-Wazi’iyah, Al-Ahkoum and Al-Athawer in Haifan District, Al-Kadaha, Jabal Numan, Al-Karifat, Aqaba Munif, Al-Tashrifat, Al-Aqroud, Sami’, and Al-Shaqab in Sabr Al-Mawadim.

He added that the raids "achieved precise and direct hits" on their targets, and resulted, according to him, in the destruction of dozens of military vehicles and capabilities, and the death and injury of large numbers of Houthi members.

Al-Nuzaili said that the armed forces also targeted “high-value targets in the capital, Sana’a, in addition to 11 high-value targets in Saada Governorate,” without clarifying the nature of these targets or the results of the strikes on them.

Al-Nazili confirmed the continuation of military operations in Taiz, saying that “the strikes confirm the unity of ranks and fronts, and that the armed forces will not leave Taiz.”

This comes with the escalation of battles in Taiz Governorate, following violent attacks launched by the Houthis on several axes inside the city and the outskirts of the governorate, which led to the outbreak of confrontations and mutual bombardment between the two sides.

A senior official at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said on Wednesday that his criticism of Israeli policies in Gaza had cost him his job, while the agency's director-general warned his employees against engaging in campaigns of a human rights nature.

Director of the Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Ben Davis, said in a statement to Agence France-Presse that he was informed in July that his contract would not be renewed after 26 years he spent at the agency, under the pretext of violating the rules of neutrality.

He added: “They accused me of organizing these silent vigils to protest the conditions of starvation and famine in Gaza.” In reference to silent protests organized weekly by employees of the organization headquartered in Rome.

Davis was also criticized for a report he helped prepare on food availability in Gaza and humanitarian law, published in May.

“We were asked to withdraw it,” he said, adding, “We were not allowed to refer to humanitarian law.”

It appeared that FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu issued a warning to employees on Tuesday against engaging in activities or campaigns of a human rights nature within the agency.

His statements came during a public intervention at the beginning of a video session on forests.

He continued: “Human rights are very important, of course, but we have a human rights agency in Geneva. Whoever is interested, go there.”

He added: “If one of the senior officials here engages in political work, I will fire him... You must follow the (FAO) constitution... You are violating employee regulations... But I am a very nice person, and I have not been fired many people.”

He added: “I will expel more people if they break the law.”

The FAO did not respond to a request for comment.

When asked if he thought he was concerned with the Director General’s statements, Davis said: “Absolutely,” explaining: “He rebuked me publicly in the past, as he considered me too involved in politics.”

Davis also expressed his "concern" about the Director-General's statements regarding the expulsion of more people.

He pointed out that hundreds of people participated in silent protests at the height of these movements, while the number of participants is currently limited to between 30 and 40 people per week.

The Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which was launched following the Hamas attack, resulted in the killing of more than 74,000 Palestinians and the injury of more than 174,000, according to the Ministry of Health, whose figures the United Nations considers reliable.

The movement’s attack on October 7, 2023, on southern Israel, resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people.