At least 73 people were killed in an attack by Yemen's Houthi movement on a government security forces training camp in Shabwa province, provincial authorities announced, marking an increase in the casualty count from Monday's strike as the conflict intensifies. Fourteen individuals remain unaccounted for.
The Iran-aligned Houthis and Yemen's internationally recognized government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition, have engaged in escalating attacks since September. This surge follows the Houthi movement's advance towards territory near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical shipping chokepoint at the entrance to the Red Sea.
Local officials reported that three ballistic missiles struck the security forces during a training exercise on Monday. Video evidence, verified by Reuters, depicted injured personnel and deceased individuals on the ground. Provincial governor Awad al-Wazir stated that more than 200 people sustained injuries.
A spokesperson for the Houthi military, Yahya Saree, claimed the camp was operated by Saudi forces. Saudi authorities have not yet issued a comment regarding the incident. Yemeni government forces initiated a campaign earlier this month to recapture Houthi-controlled areas, regaining territory close to the strait. Meanwhile, the Houthis are reportedly laying siege to Taiz, a significant urban center held by anti-Houthi forces in Yemen's southern highlands.
The ongoing conflict has been described as another theater in a broader regional struggle, with Houthi actions targeting infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the world's leading crude oil exporter. Shabwa province, a significant energy-producing region overlooking the Gulf of Aden, is home to the Balhaf liquefied natural gas facility, Yemen's largest industrial undertaking.
The protracted war in Yemen commenced with the Houthi takeover of Sanaa in 2014, compelling the government to relocate south. A military intervention by a Saudi-led coalition in 2015 resulted in a bloody stalemate, which persisted until a truce was established in 2022, holding until the current year. Aid organizations have issued warnings regarding the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions in a nation already grappling with one of the world's most severe crises.
