Local authorities in Yemen’s besieged city of Taiz demanded an urgent United Nations-backed investigation on Tuesday. Reports indicate Houthi forces fired artillery shells and rockets suspected of containing internationally banned toxic substances.
The Taiz Governorate Media Office issued a statement saying officials received consistent reports from several front lines. The most recent incidents occurred in Al-Aqroud and Kahlan, where Houthi forces allegedly used munitions containing potentially prohibited gases and other toxic materials during fighting.
These allegations follow earlier incidents where civilians and members of the Popular Resistance reportedly suffered severe breathing difficulties and lost consciousness following shelling. The exact nature of the substances involved is not yet known.
Local authorities called for an immediate technical investigation to identify the substances and determine responsibility. They urged government agencies to send specialists to inspect affected areas, gather evidence, examine medical records, and take witness testimonies.
The statement urged the United Nations and international organisations to support an independent inquiry and ensure accountability if the use of prohibited substances is confirmed.
Mostafa Noman, the deputy foreign minister of Yemen, accused the Iran-backed Houthis of using all kinds of illegal weapons to accelerate their push towards the battered city. He stated that local authorities and the Yemeni government are demanding an end to the siege and the dispatch of an independent international investigation team.
"I would not rule out the use of such weapons," he said, describing the allegations as a clear sign of their desperation to force the city to surrender.
Moammar Al-Eryani, Yemen’s information minister, separately described the allegations as a dangerous development. He called on the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to investigate the claims.
Fighting has intensified between the Houthis and forces loyal to the internationally recognised government in Taiz. The militia has tightened its siege of the city and disrupted vital supply routes.
The United Nations warned that more than 800,000 people in Taiz have been cut off from food assistance after fighting blocked major roads. These restrictions have severely disrupted deliveries of food, fuel, and medical supplies, leaving hospitals struggling to operate and residents facing water shortages.
The renewed fighting has forced thousands of Yemenis to flee their homes, increasing pressure on communities already affected by years of conflict. Authorities in Taiz held the Houthis responsible for attacks threatening civilians and warned against further escalation or the use of weapons prohibited under international law.
