Houthi militias in Yemen have bombed the home of Yemen’s national anthem composer in the city of Taez in what observers say is the biggest symbolic attack on Yemen’s unity by the militias.

In statements to the press, Ayoob Tarish confirmed that he is currently in his native village of Al-Aboos on the outskirts of Taiz, pointing out that the rebels targeted his home with several shells causing damage in the house. He pointed out that his eldest son Shadi was present with his family at home, “but fortunately no one was hurt.”

Tarish is a Yemeni singer and music composer known for having writing the United Republic, the national anthem of Yemen following the reunification in 1990.

He was known not take a stance against protesters of loyalists of ousted Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh during the Arab uprisings in 2011, where his nationalistic songs were known to have been sung by both camps.

Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:45 - GMT 06:45