Arabic version: المجتمع ينعى بعد مقتل قناص لمراهق في تعز

Taiz, Yemen – The death of 14-year-old Ibrahim Jalal, shot by a sniper while walking to school with his younger siblings, has left the community in mourning. Ibrahim’s mother, Umm Ibrahim, expressed her heartbreak, questioning, “Why did they kill my child, my source of strength?” According to Al Jazeera, the family and local residents attribute the tragedy to Houthi rebels, who have besieged the city for over a decade.

The incident occurred in a neighborhood still scarred from years of conflict. Locals report a persistent threat from snipers, with a government soldier warning residents to avoid certain areas due to ongoing danger. A 2025 UN report indicated that Taiz has been a hotspot for sniper killings in Yemen, accounting for a significant number of civilian casualties, including children.

Ibrahim’s younger sister, Baraa, witnessed the moment he was shot, initially believing it to be a joke until she saw the blood. Umm Ibrahim, waiting at home for her children, received the devastating news from a motorbike rider, marking a tragic shift in her family’s life. In response to the trauma, she has decided to keep Baraa and their younger brother, Ayman, at home for the remainder of the school year.

The community’s anger over Ibrahim’s killing has led to widespread protests, with local schools organizing vigils and students denouncing the violence. The head of the Alef Observatory for the Protection of Education and Children’s Rights condemned the act as a “cowardly terrorist” incident, highlighting the violation of children’s rights to education in Taiz. Activists warn that if such targeted attacks on children continue to be viewed as isolated incidents, the future of an entire generation remains at risk.