Summary of the Incident

Date: 18 September 2025
Time: Approximately 9:00 AM Yemen local time
Location: Sinan Roundabout, Taiz City
Victims: Iftihan al-Mashhari, Director of the Cleaning and Improvement Fund Office; and Hussein Al-Jabzi, a university student
Possible Responsible Party: Mohammed Sadiq Al-Makhlafi, a soldier in a military brigade

Introduction

On the morning of Thursday, September 18, 2025, Iftihan al-Mashhari, Director of the Cleaning and Improvement Fund in Taiz governorate, was shot by an armed individual on a motorcycle while she was driving her car in the city center, resulting in her death at the scene. The incident marked a turning point in the public mood in Taiz, a city that has experienced a complex security situation throughout years of conflict.

The killing of Al-Mashhari triggered widespread reactions at both the official and popular levels. In the aftermath of the incident, Taiz witnessed protests and public calls for the disclosure of the circumstances surrounding the killing and for those responsible to be held accountable. This was accompanied by extensive discussion across local media outlets and social media platforms regarding the nature and details of the incident, the roles and responsibilities of security and judicial authorities in handling it, and the broad local condemnations that followed.

This investigation aims to document available information related to the incident and to track its developments within their temporal and social context, through open-source materials and a review of published statements and interviews. It also seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the incident's impact on public life in Taiz, and on ongoing discussions around accountability and justice, amid the city’s fragile security situation and the recurrence of similar incidents in recent years.

Documenting this incident is important due to the scale of public reaction it generated and the widespread discussion it prompted about the risks faced by women in leadership and public roles in Yemen. The targeted killing of a female municipal official in broad daylight intensified public debate about patterns of violence and gender-based risks, and was widely viewed as a serious threat to women’s participation and safety in public life.

Content Warning

This investigation contains graphic content, including descriptions of individuals killed in the incident, as well as visuals of injured and deceased victims. Sources containing graphic audiovisual material may be redacted or accompanied by warning notices. To request access to an unredacted version, please email us at: requests@yemeniarchive.org.

Methodology

Yemeni Archive, in collaboration with the Neswan Voice platform, conducted an investigation into the killing of Iftihan al-Mashhari, Director of the Cleaning and Improvement Fund.

Neswan Voice is the first Yemeni media platform dedicated to women’s issues, offering a space where Yemeni women can discuss their concerns, share their experiences, and celebrate their successes.

The joint investigation was based on multiple stages of open-source research and analysis, including:

Preserving, analyzing, and verifying over 100 sources, including satellite imagery, videos, photos, official statements, and news reports published on media outlets and social media accounts. These materials document the moment when the incident occurred, its immediate aftermath, and the longer-term aftermath.
Determining the geographic location of the incident by matching geographical features visible in the video footage.
Verifying the time of the incident using timestamps found in initial social media reports.
Verifying the number of victims through cross-referencing news and social media reports.

Neswan Voice also conducted interviews with relevant sources.

For more information about Yemeni Archive's research methodology, please visit our website.

About Taiz

Taiz city is located in southwestern Yemen, positioned between Sana'a and the western coast overlooking the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. It is one of Yemen's most populous cities, giving it significant geopolitical and strategic importance within the context of the ongoing conflict in the country.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Yemen in 2015, residents of Taiz have experienced difficult security and social conditions. Taiz governorate is characterized by divided security, and political influence, with control varying across the governorate and between urban areas and the countryside. Parts of the north and east of the governorate are under the control of the Ansar Allah Movement (the Houthis). Taiz city itself is generally described as a center of internationally recognized government (IRG) -affiliated forces, represented through political formations linked to political parties and allied groups. However the security landscape remains highly complex and includes contested areas, with Taiz city considered to be under siege from the Houthis, as major supply routes are closed and movement into and out of the city is heavily restricted. Despite the presence of several government-aligned factions controlling the city center, the siege and the social and economic pressure imposed by Houthi forces remain among the defining features of the situation in Taiz.

Security conditions remain volatile. Assassinations and explosions continue to occur at intervals, and checkpoints operated by different security formations are widespread, reflecting fragmentation and the presence of multiple centers of power. Exchanges of shelling persist between forces positioned on the northern and eastern outskirts of the city, resulting in civilian casualties and damage to property and infrastructure.

At the governorate level, roads leading to and from Taiz, particularly in the Hawban and Al-Sitteen areas, remain closed or subject to restricted movement, limiting humanitarian access and increasing the isolation of residents. Violations against civilians continue, including arrests, the planting of landmines, and the targeting of residential areas.

The governorate has also suffered from weakened basic services, including water, healthcare, infrastructure, and transportation. On the social level, the cumulative impacts of the conflict have included internal displacement and limited access to education and health facilities, affecting the lives of civilians in both the city and surrounding rural areas.

Media reports have also documented the continued presence of military brigades and security units occupying public and private properties, particularly within Taiz city. In late September 2025, the local authority, led by Governor Nabil Shamsan, issued urgent orders to the military axis command and security police to evacuate and hand over 25 government and private facilities seized outside legal frameworks. These included service-related buildings such as the Saba News Agency, Cairo Castle, and the Technical Institute, as well as the building of the Cleaning and Improvement Fund.

Fragile Security Conditions and Declining Accountability in Taiz

Media reports point to the erosion of state institutions in Taiz and the growing influence of partisan and military groups at the expense of official authorities. According to a report published by Khabar News Agency in November 2025, networks of partisan and military actors have emerged that manage key aspects of security and administration outside formal oversight, contributing to the spread of human rights violations, including killings, arbitrary arrests, the imposition of informal levies, and a declining capacity of official institutions to protect civilians.

This picture is further reinforced by a series of high-profile incidents that have taken place in the governorate over recent years. These include the killing of Brigadier General Adnan Al-Hammadi, commander of the 35th Armored Brigade, in front of his home in 2019; the abduction, torture, and killing of Dr. Aseel Abdulhakim Al-Jabzi by an armed group in 2020; and the assassination of Diaa Al-Haqq Al-Ahdal, a leader in the Yemeni Congregation for Reform (Islah Party), in central Taiz in 2021. In several of these cases, publicly available information indicates that those responsible have not been held accountable to date.

An article by writer Hamoud Al-Sufi published in Al-Yemeni Al-Jadeed described the killing of lawyer Abdulrahman Al-Najashi as an example of the collapse of the security system and the transformation of some security bodies into tools for settling scores outside the rule of law. Similarly, an analysis by Ayoub Al-Hammadi published in September 2025 suggested that Taiz has become a reflection of Yemen’s broader disorder, where armed groups and influential figures benefit from the absence of state institutions and accountability, while civilians face a persistent sense of fear stemming from a lack of protection. Together, these sources present a cumulative picture of a city in which political and armed conflicts intersect amid the effective absence of state authority and the rule of law.

Iftihan al-Mashhari

Iftihan Al-Mashhari, the daughter of businessman Mohammed Al-Mashhari - the Honorary Consul of Yemen in Istanbul - was one of the prominent female figures in administrative and service-related work in Taiz city. She began her career at Taiz University in the early 2000s, working in administrative roles where she developed a reputation as a diligent and well-organized employee, consistently proposing initiatives aimed at improving the work environment. Over the years, she went on to manage the Student Support Fund, contributing to the expansion of assistance programs for low-income families and marginalized students, despite the complex conditions imposed by the conflict on the city since 2015.

Alongside her work at the university, Al-Mashhari was involved in several civic initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of the war and promoting women’s participation in public life, including her contribution to the establishment of the “Women of Peace in Taiz” initiative. According to her obituary in Assafir Al-Arabi, she was known for her discipline and calm demeanor, combined with an ability to assume leadership when required, maintaining a balanced presence between her administrative responsibilities and community engagement.

In late 2023, Al-Mashhari was appointed Director of the Cleaning and Improvement Fund in Taiz city. The Cleaning and Improvement Fund is a municipal public service institution affiliated with the local authority and responsible for waste collection and street cleaning. With this appointment, Al-Mashhari became the first woman to hold an executive position within a municipal service office since its establishment. Her appointment came at a time when local reports pointed to significant challenges within the institution, including financial and administrative irregularities and overlapping interests involving influential actors.

In June 2025, Al-Mashhari completed an Executive Master of Business Administration degree, submitting a research paper that examined mechanisms for improving the performance of the Cleaning and Improvement Fund in light of governance principles.

*Image* *posted on the Taiz Cleaning and Improvement Fund's Facebook page appears to show Al-Mashhari during her master's thesis defense. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 15 November 2025.*

Al-Mashhari reportedly accepted the position as an extension of her commitment to public service. According to a video published by Ola Al-Aghbari on 18 September 2025, Al-Mashhari stated that she felt she was representing the women of Taiz in assuming the role, and that any complacency or yielding to challenges would amount to a setback for women in Taiz more broadly.

According to news reports, Al-Mashhari sought to improve the institution's performance through initiatives aimed at enhancing transparency, governance, and revenue generation. She undertook a number of corrective measures, including addressing financial and administrative irregularities within the Fund, which reportedly contributed to an increase in monthly revenues, the removal of approximately 200 “ghost” employees, and salary increases for staff.

The reforms that she attempted to advance placed her in a pressured and complex working environment, as they reportedly came into conflict with the interests of networks of influential actors who controlled parts of the Fund’s resources among other services in the city. According to an audio recording attributed to Al-Mashhari and published via Nayef Ghalib Al-Wafi’s Facebook account, as well as a widely circulated written post dating back to 2024, Al-Mashhari was subjected to incitement campaigns during her tenure.

What Happened and When

On the morning of Thursday, 18 September 2025, social media accounts began reporting an attack on Al-Mashhari in the Joulat Sinan area in central Taiz city. The first report found by Yemeni Archive was published by an account named Asrar Abdullah at 10:02 AM Yemen time, followed by Rabee Al-Tuwiji at 10:10 AM, and then Mohammed Al-Salami Al-Taheri, who posted a video from the scene at 10:21 AM. According to a resident of the area who spoke to Neswan Voice, they heard rapid and intense gunfire at approximately 9:00 AM.

*Screenshot of a Facebook post from the account of* *Asrar Abdullah, which appears to be the first post announcing the killing of Iftihan al-Mashhari. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 7 November 2025.*

In the hours following the incident, the Taiz Time account on X posted a video (graphic content) showing a gathering of people near a vehicle reported to belong to Al-Mashhari, in the apparent immediate aftermath of the incident. The footage shows apparent bullet impacts on the vehicle’s windows on the driver’s side and on the front windshield, as well as what appears to be a covered body in the driver’s seat, along with traces of blood outside the vehicle.

*Screenshot from a* *video* *(graphic content) published by Taiz Time on X shows a covered body inside a car on the driver's side. Captured by Yemen Archive on December 22, 2025.*

On the day following the incident, the Yemeni Network for Rights and Freedoms account published a video on X (graphic content) showing some of the individuals who arrived at the scene of the vehicle, in the process of covering the body. The driver’s door is open, and the video shows a significant amount of blood inside the vehicle, around the driver’s seat, and on the ground.

Returning to 18 September, in a video report broadcast from the scene by Yemen Shabab TV, the correspondent reported that an unidentified armed individual riding a motorcycle fired multiple bullets at Al-Mashhari’s vehicle while she was driving, resulting in her death at the scene. Her body was later transferred to Al-Thawra Hospital in Taiz city.

Two days after the incident, on 20 September 2025, journalist Taha Saleh published a video on X from Taiz city showing what appears to be CCTV footage capturing the moment Al-Mashhari was attacked. The video shows a vehicle in motion when a motorcycle carrying two individuals approaches it; one appears to be driving the motorcycle, while the other opens fire as they draw near to the vehicle.

*Screenshot from a* *video* posted on Facebook by Abdulraqib Al-Sabri, showing CCTV footage of the moment the motorcycle approaches. The red box in the image indicates Al-Mashhari’s vehicle, while the yellow box highlights the motorcycle used by the alleged perpetrators. Captured and marked by Yemeni Archive on 7 November 2025.

*Screenshot from a* *video* posted on Facebook by Abdulraqib Al-Sabri shows what appears to be the moment Al-Mashhari’s vehicle was attacked, before the motorcycle sped away. The footage also shows other vehicles and civilians present in the area at the time of the incident. The green box in the image indicates the motorcycle and Al-Mashhari’s vehicle during the attack. Captured and marked by Yemeni Archive on 7 November 2025.

Reports about the party responsible for opening fire on Al-Mashhari’s vehicle have been inconsistent. While most narratives indicate that the shots were fired by the rear passenger on a motorcycle, other claims suggested the possible involvement of an additional party, particularly following the circulation of footage showing another vehicle (a white car) present at the scene that appeared to stop during the shooting. According to a source familiar with the incident who spoke to Neswan Voice, the gunfire was carried out solely by the motorcycle rider.

*Screenshot from* *Nawal Al-Nu'mani's* *Facebook post shows Al-Mashhari's car. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 30 October 2025.*

On the same day as the incident, Saddam Al-Qahiri posted on Facebook that Hussein Abdulrahman Al-Jabzi, a university student, was seriously injured during the incident. Al-Jabzi had reportedly been shot twice in the head and taken to Al-Thawra Hospital. Days later, Al-Jabzi was announced dead as a result of his injuries.

*Screenshot from* *Saddam Al-Qahiri's* *Facebook post shows Hussein Abdulrahman Al-Jabzi before his death while in the hospital. Captured and redacted by Yemeni Archive on 22 December 2025.*

Possible Motives, and Developments in the Case

Mohammed Sadiq Al-Makhlafi (Mohammed Sadiq), a guard at the Cleaning and Improvement Fund’s headquarters building, was identified as the primary suspect in the killing of Al-Mashhari. However a wider network of individuals have been linked with the case.

On the day of Al-Mashhari’s killing, Facebook accounts circulated an audio recording attributed to her. In the recording, Al-Mashhari recounts the beginning of a dispute, stating that “the issue began when I took over the Cleaning and Improvement Fund’s building.” The building was officially inaugurated on 28 May 2025, approximately six months prior to the incident. According to a video published by Aden TV documenting the inauguration, Al-Mashhari stated that the building had previously belonged to the Water Resources Authority, but was later rehabilitated and prepared to serve as the headquarters of the Cleaning and Improvement Fund.

*Screenshot of a post from the* *Cleaning and Improvement Fund/Taiz* *Facebook page, captured by Yemeni Archive on 24 November 2025.*

In the audio recording, Al-Mashhari stated that the ground floor of the building was occupied by a man named Jassar Al-Makhlafi (Jassar). Jassar is the uncle of Mohammed Sadiq, the individual suspected of carrying out her killing and one of those accused of inciting against her. Jassar previously served as the director of the Education Office in Shar'ab Al-Salam District, according to Ain Aden.

Al-Mashhari further stated in the recording that Jassar asked her to allow individuals affiliated with him to remain in the building and assume responsibility for guarding it. According to the recording, Jassar proposed that Mohammed Sadiq take over guarding the building together with Jassar’s son, Loai Jassar Al-Makhlafi. Al-Mashhari said that she did not know Mohammed Sadiq personally, but agreed on the basis that he was “from their side.”

Al-Mashhari stated in the recording that the guards’ salaries were delayed for several months, which led Mohammed Sadiq to stop the Fund’s accountant and open fire on him. She added that she filed a complaint against Mohammed Sadiq with the Public Prosecution and requested that he no longer interfere in matters related to guarding the building. As per the recording, she explained that she handed the payment to Jassar, clarifying that the agreement stipulated that Jassar would receive and manage the funds, as he was the one who had brought Mohammed Sadiq to work as a guard.

Separately, Al-Sahafa 24 reported that Mohammed Sadiq, described as a member of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade, demanded financial payments from the Fund’s administration under the pretext of providing protection for the building. The article stated that the building had remained under his control for years and was only handed over to the Fund’s administration after payments were made, amid the silence of security and military authorities. According to the article, this environment enabled the continuation of extortion under threat of force without intervention from the relevant authorities.

According to a statement published by the Cleaning and Improvement Fund/Taiz on Facebook on 19 August 2025, the Fund's Workers' Union condemned a further incident involving the closure of the institution's building and the obstruction of its administrative work. The statement noted that Mohammed Sadiq had closed the administration’s office, an incident described as “not the first of its kind”.

The Fund’s Workers’ Union assessed that disrupting work and closing the building constituted an assault on a government institution and exposed sector employees to risk. It warned that the continuation of such practices negatively affected the working environment in the sanitation and public services sector. The union called on local, security, and judicial authorities to intervene urgently and hold those responsible accountable. The statement also affirmed the union’s support for the Fund’s director, Al-Mashhari, and the staff working with her, stressing the need to end what it described as “security laxity” and to protect government facilities from repeated attacks.

*Screenshot from the* *Cleaning and Improvement Fund/Taiz* *Facebook account showing a statement of condemnation issued on 18 August and posted to Facebook on 19 August 2025. Captured by Yemen Archive on 25 November 2025.*

On the day of the killing, Taiz 360 reported that the Office of the Governor of Taiz had previously issued an official circular addressed to the Director General of the Governorate's Police. The circular, dated 18 August, was issued in response to the Workers’ Union statement, and emphasized the need to address reports of repeated attacks on the Fund’s building and to take legal measures against those involved.

*Screenshot from the* *Taiz 360* *Facebook account showing the directives issued by the Governor of Taiz. Captured by Yemen Archive on 26 November 2025.*

The Taiz 360 Facebook account also published two official documents related to prior complaints and reports filed against Mohammed Sadiq (while Yemeni Archive cannot confirm the documents’ provenance, they are assessed to likely be genuine and are signed by Abdul Sattar Al-Hilali, the Director of Security in Taiz). The first document, issued by the General Administration of Public Funds Investigation - Taiz, shows a summons addressed to Mohammed Sadiq Hamid Qasim and Jassar Ahmed Qasim Al-Makhlafi to appear and complete procedures related to the assault on the Cleaning and Improvement Fund’s building. The second document is a circular from Taiz Police confirming the receipt of multiple complaints from the Fund’s administration regarding the storming of the building, the closure of its offices, and assaults on staff. This indicates a documented record of prior complaints linked to the case, which had been submitted to security authorities before Al-Mashhari’s killing.

*Screenshots from the Taiz 360 Facebook account show, on the* *left, a summons* *issued by the Public Funds Investigation -Taiz, addressed to two suspects in connection with previous attacks inside the Cleaning and Improvement Fund’s building; and on the* *right, an official circular issued by Taiz Governorate Police, containing directives to act on complaints submitted by the Fund’s administration. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 26 November 2025.*

In a video published after the killing of Al-Mashhari, shared by photographer Ahmed Al-Basha on Facebook, the spokesperson for Taiz Police, Osama Al-Sharabi, spoke about the security measures taken. He stated that the Governor ordered the police to carry out security campaigns, including the deployment of female police officers and the implementation of search operations. He added that the police were informed of mediation efforts for a settlement initiated by Al-Mashhari, and accordingly the protective measures were temporarily suspended pending the completion of the settlement. He described the killing as a “planned ambush” aimed at stopping the security forces.

Audio recordings attributed to Al-Mashhari continued to circulate on social media, including a recording published by the Qissatuna platform on Facebook, in which Al-Mashhari stated that she met Bakr Sadiq Sarhan Al-Makhlafi at his home (presumably in August 2025). He was previously a battalion commander in the 22nd Mechanized Brigade, a unit of the Yemeni National Army aligned with the internationally recognized government and actively engaged in fighting against Houthi rebels. The suspect, Mohammed Sadiq, was also present at the location. According to Al-Mashhari’s recording, Bakr Sarhan refused to hand Mohammed Sadiq over to security authorities, and instead provided a written pledge that Al-Mashhari would not be harmed. In the same recording, Al-Mashhari said she confronted Mohammed Sadiq in Bakr Sarhan’s presence and asked him about the reasons for harassing her. She states that, according to his response, the incitement was coming from Jassar. She adds that she intended to inform the governor that she had located Mohammed Sadiq at Bakr Sarhan’s residence, noting that if Bakr agreed to keep him there, that was his responsibility. She further stated that she would proceed with her own measures, including changing the guards, requesting the intervention of the military police to secure the office, and requiring Jassar to vacate the building.

It is worth noting that Bakr Sadiq Sarhan Al-Makhlafi has been one of the most controversial figures in Taiz in recent years. Multiple compulsory arrest warrants have been issued against him in several criminal cases, including the killing of businessman Mahmoud Al-Zoqri in 2024, in which a death sentence was issued in absentia. In addition, lawyer Omar Al-Humaidari stated in a Facebook post that Sarhan’s name appears in several ongoing court cases involving serious charges, including murder, kidnapping, and the formation of an armed group resisting state authorities, offenses that do not lapse under Yemeni law.

According to a post published on the Facebook page of Bakr Sadiq Sarhan on 20 September 2025, he stated that he had intervened approximately one month before Al-Mashhari’s killing to mediate between the parties, with the aim of resolving disputes related to the Cleanliness and Improvement Fund office and putting an end to the harassment against Al-Mashhari. According to the post, the accused, Mohammed Sadiq, signed a written pledge not to harass her or interfere with the Fund’s office.

*Images uploaded on* *Bakr Sadiq Sarhan's* Facebook account show two reconciliation documents purportedly signed on 25 August 2025 by Jassar and Mohammed Sadiq. The documents include a pledge not to cause any problems related to the work of the Cleanliness and Improvement Fund, represented by its director, Iftihan al-Mashhari, and to comply with her professional directives, as stipulated in the documents. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 28 November 2025.

Bakr Sadiq Sarhan’s post indicates that “incitement against the martyr (Al-Mashhari) continued,” and that the commitments made by the accused did not put an end to the threats. In the same post, he called on the security forces and the army to arrest those responsible and bring them to trial. However, according to Yemen News Portal, while Sarhan had played a mediating role prior to Al-Mashhari’s killing, his role may in fact have been part of the pressure network to which Al-Mashhari was subjected before the incident.

Likely Responsible Party

Based on open-source materials, several parties’ and individuals’ names are linked to the context of the disputes and official complaints referenced above.

Mohammed Sadiq was identified as the primary suspect in the killing. Approximately one week after the incident, local police announced that he was killed during clashes during an ongoing security operation after reportedly resisting arrest.

Mohammed Sadiq appeared in a video circulated on social media, including by the X account of lawyer Mohammed Al-Maswari, in which Sadiq stated that his dispute began after he worked as a guard at the Cleanliness and Improvement Fund building for three months without receiving his wages. He claimed that the Fund’s director, Al-Mashhari, refused to pay his entitlements despite his repeated demands. He added that he turned to Bakr Sadiq Sarhan in an attempt to resolve the dispute, but without success, after which he approached his cousin, Mohammed Saeed Al-Makhlafi, seeking a solution.

In the video, he stated that his cousin told him that Al-Mashhari enjoyed extensive protection that would be difficult to overcome, and that attempting to apply pressure by firing at her vehicle would lead him directly to prison. According to Sadiq’s account, his cousin was the one who proposed to attack Al-Mashhari personally, and encouraged him to monitor her movements and carry out the attack, promising to provide support afterward.

On 24 September, Taiz police announced that Mohammed Saeed Al-Makhlafi had turned himself in to the security authorities in preparation for questioning, after his name appeared in the video recording.

*Image of* *Mohammed Sadiq* *circulated on Facebook. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 9 December 2025.*

The Yemen News Portal Facebook page reported that Mohammed Sadiq is related to several influential figures in Taiz, including Sadiq Ahmed Al-Makhlafi, Deputy Director of the Passports Department; Suhaib Sadiq Al-Makhlafi, a commander in the 170th Brigade; and Bakr Sadiq Sarhan, described earlier as a commander in the 22nd Mechanized Brigade.

According to reports circulating on social media, Mohammed Sadiq and Jassar were previously involved in the killing of Saqr Al-Majidi in the Jawlat Sinan area. A video published after Mohammed Sadiq’s death reportedly shows a confession attributed to him, in which he admits to killing both Al-Mashhari and Al-Majidi. In the Al-Majidi killing, Mohammed Sadiq and Jassar were not brought to trial. Instead, their tribe reportedly reached a reconciliation with the victim’s family, while Hamoud Saeed Al-Makhlafi, a brigadier-general in the 170th Brigade, paid 50 million Yemeni rials (worth approximately USD 30,000 in areas under the IRG’s control) as blood money, according to published reports.

On 19 September, the Taiz Police Security Media Center reported that Jassar Ahmed Qasim, one of the suspects in the killing of Al-Mashhari, had been arrested. A video published the following day shows Loai Jassar Ahmed Qasim (Jassar Ahmed Qasim) stating that he was prepared to turn himself in so as not to be accused of killing Al-Mashhari, suggesting the video may have been recorded prior to his reported arrest.

*Screenshot of a* *video* *published by Loai Jassar Ahmed Qasim Al-Makhlafi, in which he appears. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 10 December 2025.Screenshot of a* *video* *published by Loai Jassar Ahmed Qasim Al-Makhlafi, in which he appears. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 10 December 2025.*

In a video published by the Yemen Post on 23 September, Adam Al-Qadi claimed that he was the motorcycle driver used in the killing of Al-Mashhari and stated that he was unaware of the perpetrator’s intent, announcing his readiness to turn himself in to the security authorities. This appearance raised questions about an announcement by Taiz police the previous day, 22 September, claiming the arrest of the motorcycle driver and three other suspects, and about the accuracy of the information circulating regarding the identities of those involved. The same news was also published by Mareb Press on 23 September, stating that authorities in Taiz had arrested the driver and three other suspects, and sharing pictures presumably claimed to show the suspects.

*Screenshot from the video posted on the* *Yemen Post* *Facebook page on 23 September 2025, featuring Adam Al-Qadi. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 10 December 2025.*

According to confidential sources who spoke to Neswan Voice, the motorcycle driver al-Qadi fled to areas under Houthi control, where he was arrested but not handed over to the IRG, despite demands for his transfer.

*Screenshot of the images published by* *Mareb Press* *on X, which included news of the arrest of four people suspected of involvement in the killing of Al-Mashhari. Captured by Yemeni Archive on December 29, 2025.*

On 19 October 2025, news circulated regarding the arrest of Sadiq Ahmed Al-Makhlafi, Deputy Director of the Passports Office in Taiz. He is the brother of Jassar and the uncle of Loai Al-Makhlafi. According to a Facebook post by Arwa Al-Shamiri, he was in contact with Mohammed Sadiq both before and after the incident.

In an interview broadcast by Al-Jumhuriya TV, Taiz Deputy Governor Arif Jamel, speaking by phone, stated that the individuals who carried out the incident had previously been wanted under judicial orders, but leniency and shortcomings in enforcing those orders allowed further escalation, ultimately leading to the killing. He stated that security agencies only act after an incident has occurred, noting that this was not the first such case and would not be the last unless law enforcement authority is handled responsibly. He emphasized that individuals wanted by security authorities are known and move freely, and that the Security Committee is the body responsible for arresting them.

During the interview, the presenter asked about the reason for the silence of the relevant authorities despite the reports and complaints submitted by Al-Mashhari to the local authority and the security administration after she received threats from Mohammed Sadiq. Jamel responded that this issue reflects a state of institutional slackness within parts of the security leadership, stressing that the matter is not limited to Al-Mashhari’s case. In previous cases, judicial arrest warrants had been issued against perpetrators prior to killings, yet security agencies - according to him - only act after an incident has taken place.

On the morning of 22 September 2025, Osama Al-Sharabi, the official spokesperson for the Taiz Police, published a Facebook post stating that Mohammed Saeed Al-Makhlafi, a commander in the 170th Brigade and the brother of Sheikh Hamoud Saeed Al-Makhlafi, head of the Supreme Council of the Popular Resistance, had obstructed the security operation and prevented it from raiding a house in the Al-Rawdah neighborhood, an area where police said the suspect had been tracked to.

*Screenshot of a Facebook post by* *Osama Al-Sharabi, captured by Yemeni Archive on 30 November 2025.*

That afternoon, in a video interview, Al-Sharabi stated that security forces had raided several locations in search of the suspect but encountered obstacles imposed by influential figures and commanders within the 170th Air Defense Brigade. Those figures reportedly prevented security forces from entering some locations where the suspect was believed to be present. Al-Sharabi added that the incident resulted from a “shared failure” by multiple parties, including the national army, the local authority, and committees tasked with taking over public facilities. He noted that had government buildings been handed over as required, Al-Mashhari would not have been forced into direct confrontation with armed elements present inside them.

Later that afternoon, Belqees TV published a video in which Mohammed Saeed Al-Makhlafi denied obstructing the security campaign and called on Osama Al-Sharabi to issue an apology.

On 24 September, Colonel Nabil Al-Kadahi, Assistant Director General of Taiz Governorate Police, announced the killing of Mohammed Sadiq by a joint security operation. Al-Kadahi stated that Mohammed Sadiq was killed following an armed clash with security forces after the house in which he was barricaded was surrounded, noting that he resisted the security forces and detonated three grenades.

In another interview broadcast by Suhail Channel, Al-Kadahi stated that Mohammed Sadiq injured five members of the security forces before being wounded himself and dying. He added that Sadiq was then transferred to Al-Thawra Hospital.

A video published by journalist Wadie Abdullah documented the moment of the clash between Mohammed Sadiq and the security forces. The Taiz Police Security Media Center published a Facebook post stating that the fighting took place in the Al-Wakeel Hill area.

Another video published by Taiz News described the moment of the clash with Mohammed Sadiq. In addition, an image (warning: graphic visual content) was circulated purportedly showing Mohammed Sadiq lying on the ground. A further video (warning: graphic visual content) was also shared, appearing to show Mohammed Sadiq’s body surrounded by a number of soldiers, alongside a gathering of individuals believed to be civilians taking photographs. A gunshot wound to the neck was clearly visible on the body.

Hamoud Saeed Al-Makhlafi told Al Jazeera that approximately eight persons are suspects in the killing of Al-Mashhari, and that he took part in monitoring and tracking the perpetrators’ movements in coordination with security and military officials. He stated that he provided security forces with information about the location of the suspect Mohammed Sadiq after tracking his communications, prompting the security force to move to the site. He added that Mohammed Sadiq resisted the security forces and moved between several houses before being wounded and killed by a sniper shot.

The killing sparked widespread controversy and raised questions about the circumstances surrounding Mohammed Sadiq’s death. Mohammed Al-Mashhari (Iftihan Al-Mashhari’s father) shared a post by Yemeni political analyst Ali Al-Bukhaiti, who questioned inconsistencies in Hamoud Saeed Al-Makhlafi’s account. Al-Bukhaiti stated that Mohammed Sadiq was first injured by multiple gunshots to his legs before being killed by a sniper shot. He argued that a person injured in this manner would not be able to flee, and that sniper fire is intended to neutralize an active threat rather than kill someone who is already incapacitated, suggesting, in his view, that what occurred may have been the elimination of a potential witness. Yasser Al-Yafei raised similar questions regarding how Sadiq was able to reach areas close to front lines despite his multiple injuries and despite the presence of a large security force that was reportedly pursuing him.

On 14 October 2025, the forensic report on the killing of Mohammed Sadiq circulated publicly, sparking further controversy due to its apparent contradiction of the security narrative in Taiz. According to a statement by Mohammed Abdullah Al-Mashhari to Al-Awal, security authorities had stated that Mohammed Sadiq was killed while resisting arrest. However, the medical report indicated the presence of more than 30 gunshot wounds distributed across multiple parts of the body, including the shoulders, chest, back, and limbs, raising questions about the nature of the operation and the distances from which the shots were fired. The Facebook account of Murad Mohammed Al-Zoqri published what was described as a copy of the forensic report on Mohammed Sadiq’s killing.

In a further development in the case, Zaid Al-Mashhari, the brother of Iftihan Al-Mashhari, published a statement on 7 December 2025 that included a formal notification addressed to the relevant security authorities calling for the arrest of those wanted. In the statement, the Al-Mashhari family and their defense team condemned the unjustified delay in arresting a suspect, Captain Muadh Marsh, arguing that the passage of time without his detention raised serious questions about the efficacy of the security response.

*Image of Muadh Marsh published by* *Zaid Al-Mashhari* *on Facebook, captured by Yemeni Archive on 10 December 2025.*

Al-Mashhari had mentioned the name Muadh Marsh in one of her published recordings. According to Al-Mashhari, following Mohammed Sadiq’s attack on the Cleanliness and Improvement Fund building and its closure, she announced a work strike and called on security authorities to arrest him. In the recording, she stated that the wanted individual was present at his home and added that, should he flee, he would have nowhere to seek shelter except with Muadh Marsh Al-Makhlafi.

According to open-source information, Muadh Marsh Al-Makhlafi is the head of the February Police Station and the brother-in-law of Mohammed Sadiq. The Criminal Prosecution issued arrest warrants for Muadh Marsh Al-Makhlafi and his son Ghazi Muadh Al-Makhlafi, after they failed to comply with repeated summonses in the Al-Mashhari case. The prosecution ordered that they be detained at the Central Prison to complete the investigations.

According to information obtained by Neswan Voice, the number of detainees in connection with the killing of Al-Mashhari had reached 14 as of 16 December 2025, and investigations are ongoing. Protests continue to demand the arrest of the remaining individuals wanted in the case.

Al-Makhlafi Family Tree.png

Geographic Location

The incident location was Jawlat Sinan in Taiz, located at coordinates 13.588358, 44.016268.

CCTV footage showed the site of the incident, and in a video published by Yemen Shabab TV from the scene the reporter stated that the incident occurred in the “Jawlat Sinan area in central Taiz city”. Yemeni Archive, in cooperation with Neswan Voice, analyzed available videos and CCTV footage and compared them with satellite imagery and online maps.

*Screenshot of the Jawlat Sinan location from Google Earth Pro, captured by Yemeni Archive on 2 December 2025.*

*Screenshot from Google Earth Pro, with landmarks in Jawlat Sinan marked by Yemeni Archive, compared with two screenshots from CCTV footage filmed at the incident site. The CCTV video was shared by* *Abdulraqib Al-Sabri* *on Facebook. Captured and identifying markers added by Yemeni Archive on 2 December 2025.*

*Photo taken by Neswan Voice on 27 November 2025 showing the location where Al-Mashhari’s vehicle stopped moments after the incident, compared with a screenshot from a video shared by* *Abdulraqib Al-Sabri* *on Facebook. Captured and identifying markers added by Yemeni Archive on 2 December 2025.*

Reactions

The killing of Al-Mashhari was met with widespread public condemnation. Following the circulation of news of her death, workers and employees of the Cleanliness and Improvement Fund announced a comprehensive strike and suspended all work. Their announcement stressed that work would not resume until the local authorities and security agencies apprehended those responsible and revealed the circumstances surrounding the incident.

*Screenshot from a* *video* published by Adel Al-Murairi on Facebook on 19 September 2025 showing the accumulation of litter in the streets of Taiz reportedly as a result of protests over the killing of Al-Mashhari. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 22 December 2025.

In a video published by Yemen Shabab TV on the evening of Al-Mashhari’s killing, litter collection trucks were seen parked in front of the local authority building on Jamal Street, described as blocking the road in protest over her killing. Protesters also set up tents in front of the Taiz Governorate building, reportedly demanding the swift arrest of those responsible for Al-Mashhari’s killing and stating that a sit-in would continue until justice is achieved.

*Image posted by the* *Qissatuna Platform* *on Facebook showing tents set up in front of the Taiz Governorate building on the evening of the killing of Iftihan al-Mashhari. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 17 December 2025.*

On the morning of 21 September 2025, the city of Taiz witnessed a mass march attended by tens of thousands of residents from the Al-Hujariyah area, including tribal sheikhs and social, political, and party figures. According to coverage by Belqees TV, the march set off from surrounding rural areas and proceeded toward the local authority building in Taiz city.

*Image posted by* *Mohammed Al-Qurashi* *on Facebook claiming to show residents of Al-Hujariyah arriving from rural areas to participate in the march toward the local authority building. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 24 December 2025.*

The marches moved through the city and its surrounding areas toward the governorate building, where thousands gathered to express their anger over the killing of Al-Mashhari, viewing the incident as part of a pattern of women being targeted.

*Image posted by photographer* *Mohammed Al-Qurashi* *on Facebook showing the moment the Al-Hujariyah march arrived on Jamal Street in front of the Taiz Governorate building. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 17 December 2025.*

Women in Taiz city have been at the forefront of the protests since the moment the incident occurred, calling for the swift arrest of those responsible and for justice to be served. Women in the city continued to participate in these protests as of the date of preparation of this investigation in December 2025.

*Image posted by* *Nader Mohammed Al-Dughaysh* *on Facebook showing women participating and in some cases leading the protests. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 2 January 2026.*

The killing of Al-Mashhari prompted the families of other victims to join the protests, demanding the arrest of individuals wanted by security authorities. Belqees TV documented the display of photographs of hundreds of victims inside the protest tents set up in front of the local authority building, a scene reflecting the escalating state of security breakdown in Taiz.

On 25 September 2025, the Taiz Governorate Police Command announced the results of an intensive security campaign that lasted six consecutive days following Al-Mashhari’s killing, during which 31 suspects were arrested in connection with various cases. Brigadier Anis Al-Shamiri, Deputy Director of the Governorate Police, stated that security efforts would continue to pursue the remaining wanted individuals and those involved in the incident, stressing that the campaign would not stop at this point.

*Screenshot from the* *Yemen Daily* website showing leaders of the security campaign during a press conference at which they presented the latest developments and key field achievements related to the case of Iftihan al-Mashhari and other individuals wanted by security authorities. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 24 December 2025.

Reactions to the killing of Iftihan al-Mashhari were not limited to the local level; the incident also drew international condemnation. The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, told Al-Mushahid that the killing of Iftihan al-Mashhari was “shocking on multiple levels.” He praised her leadership, stating that it demonstrated the ability of Yemeni women to excel in positions of responsibility despite the corruption, entrenched interests, and risks faced by public-sector workers. Grundberg called on Yemeni authorities to ensure that those responsible do not go unpunished, stressing the need for a comprehensive, independent, and transparent investigation, and for continued attention to the case to confront the culture of impunity.

On 30 September 2025, thousands of residents of Taiz took part in a large funeral procession for Al-Mashhari. The procession included a vigil in front of the Cleanliness and Improvement Fund building, during which the formation of a legal team to follow up on the case was announced, before the body was transferred to Al-Ma‘afir District.

Weapon Used

In multiple images circulating on social media platforms, the primary suspect Mohammed Sadiq is seen carrying a Kalashnikov-pattern rifle, one of the most widely distributed and commonly used small arms in armed conflict contexts in Yemen. According to a statement provided by a confidential source to Neswan Voice, the weapon used in the killing of Al-Mashhari was a Kalashnikov rifle.

On the technical level, Neswan Voice consulted a local weapons expert. An analysis of the barrel shape and the external characteristics visible in the images suggests that the rifle is likely a Chinese-made Type 56 Kalashnikov variant, a model that is widely distributed and commonly circulated locally in Yemen. The images also show later external modifications, including changes to the trigger grip and the lower handgrip, modifications that are common in locally circulated weapons and do not affect the weapon’s core functional characteristics.

With regard to the magazine, its curved shape and external structure are consistent with standard Kalashnikov magazines chambered for 7.62×39 mm ammunition, which are widely used with AK-47 and Type 56 models. Such magazines most commonly hold 30 rounds, with less common variants holding 20 or 40 rounds; however, visual indicators in the available materials suggest the use of the standard 30-round magazine.

*Image posted by journalist* *Rashed Maarouf* on X, reportedly showing Mohammed Sadiq carrying a Kalashnikov-pattern rifle slung over his shoulder with a strap, and appearing to wear a pouch slung over his other shoulder. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 14 December 2025.

*Screenshots from Facebook posts by* *Mohammed Al-Makhlafi* *and* *Hussam Al-Dali Al-Qaisi, reportedly showing Mohammed Sadiq carrying a Kalashnikov-pattern rifle slung over his shoulder with a strap. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 16 December 2025.*

Numerous media outlets and social media users circulated images (1, 2, 3) and video footage showing Iftihan al-Mashhari’s vehicle following the incident, with visible signs of heavy gunfire damage. By comparing these visual materials and counting the visible bullet holes, approximately 12 gunshot impacts can be observed in the vehicle’s front windshield, in addition to unidentified damage behind the driver’s seat, and one gunshot impact in the window adjacent to the driver’s seat. This indicates that the vehicle was subjected to direct gunfire, with an estimated total of at least 13 rounds, a number that corresponds to the common magazine capacities of Kalashnikov rifles, including Chinese Type 56 variants.

*Images sourced from the* *Yemeni Press Agency* *and the Facebook account of* *Nawal Al-Naaman, reportedly showing Iftihan al-Mashhari’s vehicle after the attack. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 16 December 2025.*

*Image from* *2 December News Agency* *and screenshots from a video posted by* *Taiz Time* *on X, reportedly showing Iftihan al-Mashhari’s vehicle after the attack. Captured by Yemeni Archive on 16 December 2025.*

According to open source information, and based on data collected by Yemeni Archive and Neswan Voice, the weapon used was likely a Kalashnikov-type rifle.

Conclusion

This investigation shows that the killing of Iftihan al-Mashhari was neither incidental nor isolated. It occurred within a fragile security context in Taiz, where armed networks of influence exist alongside weak law enforcement, the declining ability of formal institutions to protect civilians, and persistent barriers to women’s participation in leadership - particularly in political and civic spaces, where women who assume public roles are oftentimes subjected to intimidation, and threats. By tracing the timeline of prior complaints and reports, reviewing audio recordings attributed to al-Mashhari, and analyzing circulated video footage, it becomes evident that the attack followed a period of threats and escalation linked to disputes over the Cleaning and Improvement Fund building. These developments showed a pattern of harassment and attacks on a public facility that went unaddressed.

The investigation also indicates that the case file has been marked by conflicting accounts regarding the perpetrators and involved parties, as well as inconsistent narratives surrounding the death of the primary suspect during the security operation, including controversy over the forensic report. At the same time, public reactions - particularly mass protests, the sanitation workers’ strike, and women-led demonstrations - showed how the incident has become a defining moment exposing the depth of the accountability crisis in the city, as well as widespread concern over recurring assassinations and continued impunity.

The open-source information and testimonies reviewed by Yemeni Archive in collaboration with Neswan Voice highlight gaps in the official narratives and the judicial process. The ongoing ambiguity surrounding key aspects of the incident, along with delays in arresting additional suspects named in the investigation, underscore the need for an independent and transparent judicial process to fully clarify the circumstances of the killing, determine direct and indirect responsibility, and ensure justice for the victims and their families. This case once again underscores that evidence-based documentation and analysis are essential to understanding patterns of violence in Taiz and supporting broader efforts to break cycles of fear and prevent further crimes against civilians.

.css-68jq5d{padding-bottom:1.45rem;color:#ffffff;-webkit-transition:0.25s;transition:0.25s;}.css-68jq5d:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}INVESTIGATIONS

The Killing of Iftihan al-Mashhari, Director of the Cleaning and Improvement Fund in Taiz

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INVESTIGATIONS