Taiz is a city in southwestern Yemen. It is located in the Yemeni Highlands, near the port city ofMocha on the Red Sea, lying at an elevation of about above sea level. It is the capital of Taiz Governorate. With a population of over 600,000 in 2005, it is the third largest city in Yemen after the capital Sana'a and the southern port city of Aden. Due to the ongoing campaign as part of Yemen's civil war, Taiz is a battleground and a war zone. Once known as the "cultural capital of Yemen", the war has bestowed a new title, "city of snipers".
History
A well-known traveller to Taiz was Ibn Battuta. In his travels he describes this city as "one of the most beautiful and extensive cities of Yemen." He was invited to a banquet with the king, and received a warm welcome.
Medieval
Taiz was ruled by Turan-Shah, the older brother of Saladin, after he had conquered Yemen in 1173 CE. Turan-Shah built the citadel on the hill overlooking the old city. In 1175 CE, Taiz was made the capital of Yemen as it was incorporated into dominions of the Ayyubid dynasty by Turan-Shah. The second Rasulid King, Almaddhafar, established Taiz as the second capital of the Rasulid Dynasty after Zabid. In 1332 Ibn Battutah visited Taiz and described it as one of the largest and most beautiful cities of Yemen. In the 1500, the capital is moved to Sana'a by the ruler of the Taharid dynasty. In 1516 Taiz came under Ottoman control.
In 1918 the Ottomans lost Taiz to the new independent Yemen. Taiz remained a walled city until 1948, when Imam Ahmed made it the second capital of Yemen, allowing for expansion beyond its fortified wall. In the 1960s, the first purified water system in Yemen is opened in Taiz. In 1962, state administrations move back to Sana'a.
During the Yemeni Revolutionfighting in Taiz resulted in anti-government forces seizing control of the city from president Ali Abdullah Saleh. As part of the 2015 Yemeni Civil War, on 22 March 2015, the Houthis and forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh took the city in the aftermath of their coup d'état in Sana'a. The city became the site of a military confrontation between Houthis and the forces loyal to Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. The city was effectively under siege and the United Nations warned of an "extreme and irreversible" food shortage if fighting continued. In August 2015 Yemeni MP Muhammad Muqbil Al-Himyari reported Houthi attacks on civilians in Taiz and appealed for help on Suhail TV. The 2015 confrontation expanded into a military campaign for control of this strategic city. Despite ceasefires and prisoner swaps, the battle continues to this day and the city has been described as a "volatile front line." The frontline runs through the city from east to west, and journeys across the frontline that once took 5 minutes now take 5 hours.
Geography
Climate
Taiz has a hot semi-arid climate. The average daily temperature high during August is. Annual rainfall of Taiz is around, but on Jabal Sabir it is probably around per year.
Landmarks
The city has many old quarters, with houses that are typically built with brown bricks, and mosques are usually white. Most famous among the mosques are the Ashrafiya, the Muctabiya and the Mudhaffar. Also memorable are the old citadel and the governor's palace that rests on top of a mountain spur above the city centre. It also has one of the best-known mountains in Yemen, Jabal Saber, almost above sea level), which affords panoramic views over the city.
Economy
Historically, the mountainous city of Taiz was known for coffee production. The coffee produced in Taiz was considered some of the finest in the region in the early 20th century. Today, coffee remains a major part of the economy but mango, pomegranate, citrus, banana, papai, vegetables, cereals, onions, and qat are also grown in the surrounding landscape. Taiz is known for its cheese. It is produced in rural areas like Araf, Awshaqh, Akhuz, Bargah, Barah, Jumah, Mukyas, Suayra, Kamb and Hajda and sold in al-Bab al-Kabeer and Bab Musa markets. Industries in the city of Taiz include cotton-weaving, tanning and jewelry production. Taiz today is the largest industrial base in Yemen.
Transport
Taiz has many road connections with the rest of the country. The city is served by Ta'izz International Airport. As of 2020, all roads to and from Ta'iz, except for one, are controlled by the Houthi movement.
Zoo
Like Sana'a Zoo, this zoo held fauna caught in the wild, such as the Arabian leopard, besides exotic animals such as African lions and gazelles.
