In Yemen’s Taiz city, security and army forces began field and logistical preparations this morning to launch a major operation in the “Kelabah” and “Rawdah” neighborhoods, an area locally dubbed “Death Square” due to its history of fierce clashes and weak security control.

A Comprehensive Security Plan

According to military and security sources, the operation aims to eliminate criminal elements wanted for serious offenses including murder, armed robbery, and drug trafficking. Among them are the perpetrators of the shocking assassination of Aftihan al-Mashhari, director of the Cleanliness Fund in Taiz, whose killing sparked widespread outrage.

Sources confirmed that the wanted men have long used the area’s complex terrain and dense population to resist previous attempts at arrest.

Failed Negotiations Lead to Military Action

The decision to storm the area came after 48 hours of failed negotiations and mediation attempts that sought a peaceful surrender. The move also follows mounting public pressure, with youth groups, women, and community organizations staging repeated protests demanding justice for al-Mashhari and harsher measures against her killers.

Civilian Safety Measures

The security plan involves deploying joint army and police units to seal off the neighborhoods and prevent suspects from fleeing. Authorities also plan to establish safe corridors for civilians wishing to evacuate before the operation begins.

Anticipation and Determination

The operation is expected to start within hours amid high anticipation among residents, as officials vow that “the long arm of the law will reach anyone who hides behind weapons or civilians.”

It is worth noting that Aftihan al-Mashhari was gunned down outside her home in Taiz’s al-Qahirah district, in what activists described as a deliberate attack on working women and civil society leaders. Her assassination has since become a symbol in the fight against impunity in the city.