Taiz, Yemen - The Taiz Military Axis, part of the Yemeni Army, honored one of its injured officers on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. The officer, Lieutenant 2 Raafat Al-Abidi, has been injured six times during battles against the Houthi rebels in Taiz.

The ceremony, held under the direction of the Minister of Defense and the Taiz Governor, was led by the Axis Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Abdul Aziz Al-Majidi, and the Axis Advisor, Brigadier General Abdo Farhan.

The honoring of Al-Abidi is a recognition of his significant sacrifices in defending the nation and a testament to the Ministry of Defense, the Axis leadership, and the local authorities' commitment to supporting injured soldiers.

Al-Abidi's most recent injury occurred in July 2024, resulting in the loss of one of his kidneys. He has also lost a limb and sustained injuries to one eye in previous battles. Despite these injuries, he has remained steadfast in his defense of Taiz against the Houthi rebels, who are designated as a terrorist group by the international community.

Injured soldiers in Taiz have long complained of neglect, particularly in terms of medical care. This prompted the internationally recognized Yemeni government to hold several meetings with Taiz local and military leaders, as well as representatives of the injured, promising to address their concerns.

Last Thursday, August 1, Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak met with representatives of injured soldiers and families of martyrs from Taiz, listening to their concerns regarding treatment, care, and promotions. He directed immediate action to resolve several issues.

The meeting, which included Taiz Governor Nabil Shamsan and the Chief of Staff of the Taiz Axis, Brigadier General Abdul Aziz Al-Majidi, saw the Prime Minister instruct the Head of the Land and Urban Planning Authority to allocate a land plot for the families of martyrs in Taiz as a first step. He emphasized the government's commitment to reviewing spending allocated to injured soldiers and families of martyrs in liberated governorates, ensuring support reaches beneficiaries through transparent mechanisms.

On Sunday, August 4, Minister of Defense Mohsen Al-Da'ari affirmed the priority of addressing the needs of martyrs and injured soldiers, emphasizing the Ministry of Defense's commitment to providing treatment and care for the injured and supporting the families of fallen soldiers. He considered this a national duty and a tribute to their heroism and sacrifices in defending the nation's dignity.

This statement came during a meeting with Taiz Governor Nabil Shamsan, the Chief of Staff of the Taiz Axis, Abdul Aziz Al-Majidi, and representatives of families of martyrs and injured soldiers. The meeting focused on discussing the situation of the Taiz Axis and the martyrs and injured soldiers, particularly those affiliated with the Axis.

In early July 2024, injured soldiers and resistance fighters from Taiz staged a protest in Cairo, Egypt, denouncing neglect and demanding swift action on their case and the payment of their overdue salaries, which had been delayed for three months.

The injured soldiers expressed their concerns that neglect and negligence would negatively impact the morale of soldiers on the front lines. They stressed the need to implement presidential directives regarding the monitoring of the injured soldiers' case and providing them with immediate necessities.