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Ambush on Taiz Governor’s Motorcade Leaves Five Security Officers Dead

11:49 PM, 11/24/2025

Gunmen attacked the motorcade of Taiz governor Nabil Shamsan on Monday, killing at least five security officers and wounding two; two attackers were also killed. The ambush struck a major highway linking Taiz with the rest of Yemen, and no group has claimed responsibility. Taiz remains a strategic, blockaded city amid Yemen’s protracted civil war, and authorities say they are pursuing those responsible.

Gunmen opened fire on the motorcade of Taiz province governor Nabil Shamsan on Monday, killing at least five of his security officers and wounding two others, provincial officials said. Two attackers were killed in the ensuing shootout. No group has claimed responsibility for the ambush.

The assault occurred on a major highway that links Taiz to the rest of Yemen. Mohamed Abdel-Rahman, a provincial spokesman, said security and military units moved quickly to secure the scene and are pursuing those responsible.

The governor’s office issued a statement saying authorities are working to bring the perpetrators to justice and that investigations are ongoing.

Why Taiz matters

Taiz is one of Yemen’s most strategically important and contested cities. Located in the southwest, it sits at the junction of an east–west route to the Red Sea port of Mocha and a north–south corridor to Sanaa via Dhamar and Ibb provinces. The city has been under a Houthi blockade since 2016, severely affecting movement and supplies for residents.

The wider conflict began in 2014 when Houthi forces advanced from their northern stronghold in Saada and forced the internationally recognized government into exile. In 2015 a Saudi-led coalition intervened to try to restore that government. Fighting has largely stalled in recent years, and the Houthis later reached a deal with Saudi Arabia that curtailed cross-border attacks in exchange for a reduction in coalition strikes.

Authorities say more details will be released as the investigation continues and security operations proceed. Local residents and humanitarian organizations remain concerned about the impact of ongoing instability on civilian life and vital supply routes.

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