Houthi rocket attack kills 53 soldiers in Yemen

A rocket attack by the Houthi militia on a military camp in Yemen has resulted in the deaths of at least 53 soldiers from the internationally recognized government. The local provincial government reported that the attack also left around 200 people injured.

The strikes targeted a training camp for police and security forces in the south of the country. According to the provincial authorities, the Houthis launched three ballistic missiles at the Al-Alam camp in Shabwa province. Most of the fatalities reportedly belonged to newly recruited soldiers undergoing training. The numerous casualties have overwhelmed hospitals in the area.

The provincial government has called on both the internationally recognized Yemeni government and the Saudi-led coalition supporting them to expedite the provision of air defense and early warning systems. Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, strongly condemned the assault, describing it as a "cowardly terrorist attack" and pledged a strong response.

The Houthi militia, which is supported by Iran, justified the missile attack as retaliation against Saudi Arabia. A Houthi spokesperson claimed that the targeted camp was operated by Saudi officers. There has been no immediate response from Saudi Arabian authorities.

Recent months have seen an escalation in clashes between Houthi forces and troops loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government. These confrontations intensified after government forces launched an offensive to reclaim areas close to the strategically important Bab al-Mandab strait on the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia itself has been frequently targeted in recent Houthi attacks, including missile strikes that have hit important sites like Riyadh airport, causing casualties.

The conflict in Yemen has persisted since 2014, leading to a humanitarian crisis that is one of the world's most dire. A ceasefire agreement reached in 2022 collapsed, further exacerbating the situation and leading to renewed violence in 2023.

Source: tagesschau.de