Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck a military camp in southern Yemen with ballistic missiles, killing at least 53 recruits and wounding 200 others, according to local authorities.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
At least 53 people were killed and 200 wounded in a Houthi missile attack on a Yemeni government military camp in the southern province of Shabwa on Monday, according to local authorities and military officials. The strike, which targeted new recruits during a training exercise, marks one of the deadliest incidents in the recent resurgence of fighting in Yemen.
The Houthis fired three ballistic missiles at the al-Alam camp in Shabwa. While initial reports cited lower casualty figures, the death toll rose significantly throughout the day. The Associated Press reported a toll of 53, citing provincial authorities.
"The death toll has risen to at least 50, with more than 100 people injured, some of them in critical condition," Fahad al-Khalifi, deputy governor of Shabwa, said, according to AFP. Al-Khalifi noted that local hospitals were overwhelmed, forcing the transfer of seriously wounded patients to facilities in neighboring Hadramout and Aden provinces.
The victims were recruits for a new Rapid Intervention force intended to defend the local area. The missiles reportedly struck while the soldiers were lining up in formation ahead of training. Majed al-Nuzaili, spokesperson for the Yemeni armed forces, described the site as a training center for security and police recruits.
Rashad al-Alimi, head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, vowed a "firm response" to the attack. He stated that the strike reflects the Houthis' "approach of resorting to cowardly terrorist attacks whenever they face pressures or their Iranian-backed sabotage plots falter."
The Houthis confirmed they targeted the camp. A Houthi military spokesman claimed the camp was targeted because it is operated by Saudi officers, asserting that some of them were killed, though he provided no evidence for this claim. The Saudi government did not immediately comment on the specific incident.
Reporting from Sanaa, Al Jazeera noted that Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree stated that "anywhere with a Saudi-backed military presence will be considered a legitimate target."
The attack occurred amid a broader escalation in the conflict, which reignited after the collapse of a 2022 truce. The resurgence of violence has been linked to the regional impact of the US-Israel war on Iran. The Houthis have recently seized strategic territory along the Red Sea coast and near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, prompting a counteroffensive by Saudi-backed government forces.
The conflict has also intensified pressure on Saudi Arabia. On Monday, Saudi authorities sent alerts to residents of Riyadh warning of "a hostile aerial threat." In response to the security situation, Saudi government agencies instructed employees in the capital to work from home, and the Kingdom Centre, a major skyscraper in downtown Riyadh, requested workers to stay away until further notice. Additionally, Saudi Arabia canceled a global investment conference scheduled for the following week.
This attack represents a significant escalation in the Yemeni civil war, targeting new recruits and highlighting the vulnerability of government forces in southern provinces. The incident underscores the widening regional conflict, with direct impacts on Saudi Arabia's economic activities and civilian life in Riyadh. The high casualty count among trainees may further destabilize the internationally recognized government's efforts to rebuild its military capabilities.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck a Yemeni government military camp in Shabwa province with ballistic missiles, killing at least 53 soldiers and wounding 200 recruits.
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