Houthi Missile Strike Claims at Least 18 Lives at Yemeni Military Camp in Shabwa

Dozens of people have been killed and wounded following a Houthi missile attack on the al-AIam military camp in southern Yemen, according to authorities. The attack, which involved three ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis on Monday, struck the camp in Shabwa governorate during a training exercise, a spokesperson for the Yemeni government forces stated. Officials from the internationally recognized government and medical sources confirmed that at least 18 individuals lost their lives and over 30 sustained injuries. The deputy governor of Shabwa reported at least 40 casualties, without providing a specific breakdown of fatalities and injuries.

This attack occurs amidst ongoing intense fighting across Yemen. The civil war has seen a significant escalation since the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, seized strategic territory from government-loyal forces along the Red Sea coast last month. In response to these losses, government forces, with backing from Saudi Arabia, launched a counteroffensive and initiated the “Dawn of Yemen” operation, aiming to reclaim Houthi-held areas, including the capital, Sanaa, which the Iran-aligned group captured in 2014.

Rashad al-Alimi, the head of the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council, identified the deceased as new recruits and vowed a “firm response.” He commented, “Targeting recruits reflects the Houthi militia’s approach of resorting to terrorist attacks when under pressure.”

Reporting from Sanaa, Al Jazeera’s Yousef Mawry indicated that the Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack. “The Houthis said the attack targeted what they called a ‘Saudi-backed’ military base, referring to Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces who are stationed at military camps across the country,” Mawry reported. “The Houthis say they will continue to target those bases. Spokesperson Yahya Saree says anywhere with a Saudi-backed military presence will be considered a legitimate target.”

Earlier, Yemeni government forces reported striking Houthi gatherings, vehicles, and weapons in al-Aqroudh, al-Shaqab, and al-Sarari, located south of Taiz, a region currently experiencing fuel shortages and rapidly increasing prices.