Houthi rebels launch deadly attack on Yemeni troops
Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck Yemeni government forces with ballistic missiles on Monday, killing at least 53 soldiers at a military camp in one of the deadliest attacks since a resurgence in fighting this summer, Yemeni military officials said, reports BritPanorama.
The attack also wounded an additional 200 recruits at the military camp in the southern province of Shabwa, according to the provincial government. The Houthis acknowledged that the camp was their target.
This incident marks an escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Houthis and Yemen’s Saudi-backed government forces. The fighting is part of a broader conflict linked to the Iran war that began in February, breaking a 2022 ceasefire that had reduced hostilities in Yemen’s civil war.
In recent weeks, the Houthis have showcased their military capabilities by launching attacks on Saudi Arabia, including hitting the kingdom’s main international airport hundreds of miles away and seizing territory near a crucial shipping choke point.
In a sign of the domestic impact of these attacks, Saudi Arabia cancelled a global investment conference scheduled for next week and mandated remote learning for schools in and around Riyadh. This reflects growing apprehension within Saudi society regarding Houthi operations.
Iran and its allies in Lebanon and Iraq are accused of providing the Houthis with expertise, training, and sophisticated weaponry, although Iran denies these allegations, which would violate a U.N. embargo.
The provincial government in Shabwa warned that the death toll could rise, describing the attack as targeting new recruits in a critical training phase and deeming it a significant military escalation. They urged Yemen’s president and the Saudi-led coalition to expedite enhancements to air defense systems.
Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s ruling Presidential Leadership Council, vowed a “firm response” to the Houthi actions.
A Houthi military spokesman claimed that the camp’s operation by Saudi officers justified their attack, stating that some Saudi officers were killed, although no evidence was provided. The Saudi government has yet to comment on the incident.
Meanwhile, reports emerged of a Houthi offensive being repelled by government-aligned fighters in southwestern Yemen, illustrating the ongoing conflict dynamics. Elsewhere, local authorities in Marib province reported Houthi missile attacks on densely populated areas.
In Taiz province, a father and daughter were killed by a mortar shell fired by the Houthis. Earlier, the Houthi-run Health Ministry accused Saudi-led forces of an airstrike that killed at least nine people, including children, over the weekend.
The Houthis, a Shiite political movement, have increasingly targeted Saudi Arabia due to its support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government amid the civil war. Saudi Arabia intervened in 2015 following the Houthi seizure of much of northern Yemen.
Recent weeks have seen a surge in Houthi attacks on Saudi infrastructure, including oil facilities and airports. On Monday alone, the Houthis claimed responsibility for six attacks against Saudi infrastructure; however, details on when these attacks occurred remain unclear.
The Saudi Civil Defense issued danger alerts in response to the claimed attacks but reported no immediate casualties. Meanwhile, in Yemen, Houthi forces have expanded their territorial control along the Red Sea coast, which has prompted the Saudi-led coalition to conduct military operations aimed at dislodging the rebels.
Monday also marked five years since Houthi forces detained over 20 Yemeni staff members of the U.S. Embassy in Sana’a. Although the embassy had ceased operations in 2015, local staff were essential for maintaining security and basic operations. The State Department reiterated its call for their “immediate and unconditional release.”
As the conflict escalates, the region remains on edge, with uncertain implications for both domestic and international security.
