In Yemen's city of Taiz, a 14-year-old boy named Ibrahim was killed by a sniper while on his way to school. His mother, Umm Ibrahim, described the tragedy, asking, "Why did they kill my child, my source of strength?". The child was shot alongside his younger siblings, with the family and local residents blaming Yemen's Houthi rebels for the incident.

Taiz has been under siege by the Houthis for 11 years, though it remains largely under government control. Despite the war being largely frozen since 2022, violent incidents like Ibrahim's killing continue. Umm Ibrahim had previously lost her husband nearly a decade ago under mysterious circumstances, after which Ibrahim became the family's main support in the war-torn and economically deprived city. In the al-Dairi Kilabah neighborhood where the killing occurred, a sadness prevails, with families keeping children indoors due to fear of further attacks.

A government soldier warned of the area's danger, pointing to panels hung on iron posts intended to block the view of snipers from Houthi-controlled areas to the north, but they have proven insufficient. Taiz's mountainous geography provides numerous vantage points for snipers. According to a 2025 UN report, 66% of sniper killings in Yemen occur in Taiz city and the wider governorate, with 21 deaths, including nine children.

Ibrahim's 11-year-old sister, Baraa, told Al Jazeera that he was walking beside her and joking happily when he suddenly stopped, staggered into her arms, and fell to the ground. Baraa initially thought it was a trick, but upon seeing blood gushing from his body, she lost consciousness. Umm Ibrahim was at home waiting for the children, but instead, a motorcycle rider arrived with the ill-omened news.

The killing sparked an outpouring of anger in Taiz, where people have suffered for years under Houthi attacks. A mass turnout occurred at Ibrahim's funeral on Monday, with locals expressing solidarity. On Tuesday, local schools organized protest vigils with banners denouncing the killing. Taiz's government-run Education Office condemned the act as a "cowardly terrorist" action. Najib al-Kamali, head of the Alef Observatory, stated, "In Taiz, the student has become a target. Targeting a child on their educational journey symbolically assassinates hope in society."

Source: www.aljazeera.com