Taiz Acting Governor Ahmed Al-Masawa has called on residents of the western districts who were drawn into the fighting to return to their families and stay away from combat, stressing that preserving lives and Yemen’s social fabric must take precedence.

In a statement addressed to residents of Al-Kadaha in Al-Ma’afer, as well as Mawza, Al-Wazi’iyah, and Mokha, Al-Masawa said that protecting civilians and their property is the highest priority. 

He stressed that remaining in their communities without being drawn into military activity is a fundamental right that must not be violated, warning that any infringement only serves the enemies of the nation and risks opening the door to chaos.

Al-Masawa accused those recruiting residents into the ranks of Saudi- and UAE-backed mercenaries of being hired killers who sell their allegiance to the highest bidder, describing them as outsiders with no connection to Yemen’s values. 

He said the seizure of heavy military equipment and vehicles in villages and valleys was evidence of coercive practices against vulnerable residents and one of the main drivers of popular opposition to them.

He emphasized, however, that those who had been misled or pressured into fighting were not the target, but rather victims of these groups. 

“We have no dispute with you,” he said, stressing that Yemeni blood should never be sacrificed for an external project. He called on them to abandon the fighting and return to their families, assuring them that they would be safe.

Al-Masawa also urged tribal sheikhs, community leaders, and other social figures to halt incitement, prevent further bloodshed, and encourage armed men to return home. 

He reaffirmed that the people of these areas are an integral part of the national fabric and that their interests lie in security, stability, and development—not in being exploited for foreign agendas.

He said the authorities were prepared to coordinate with all those committed to securing villages and protecting farmers, preserving public order, lives, and property. “The nation deserves your loyalty, and the righteous shall have the final victory,” Al-Masawa concluded.