Houthi Attack Kills 73 in Training Field in Yemen
The death toll rose to 73 in the attack by the Houthi movement on a government security forces training field in Shabwa, Yemen. Fourteen people remain missing and over 200 were injured. The ballistic missile attack occurred on Monday and was claimed by the Houthis, who allege the site was administered by Saudi forces.
The Houthi movement's attack on a training camp for government security forces in Yemen's Shabwa province has left 73 people dead, the provincial press office said. The number was updated on Tuesday, raising the death toll from Monday's attack as fighting intensifies in the region.
Fourteen people were still missing, the office added. Local authorities said three ballistic missiles struck security forces during a training session. A video verified by Reuters showed wounded people and bloody bodies scattered on the ground.
Missiles hit training and leave dozens of victims
According to provincial governor Awad al-Wazir, more than 200 people were injured in the attack. The death toll could rise, as many injured are in serious condition and local hospitals face difficulties meeting demand. The source did not detail the condition of the missing or the progress of the searches.
The Houthis' military spokesman, Yahya Saree, said the camp was administered by Saudi forces. The Saudi authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Houthis’ claim could not be independently confirmed.
Context of the conflict and recent escalation
Yemeni government forces began a campaign this month to retake areas controlled by the Houthis, reclaiming territory near the strait. The Houthis are besieging Taiz, the last major urban stronghold of the forces against the group in the southern highlands of Yemen. The government offensive and the siege of Taiz intensified clashes on several fronts.
The conflict has become one more front in the wider U.S. and Israeli war with Iran, with Houthi attacks targeting Riyadh’s international airport and Saudi Aramco, the world’s largest exporter of crude oil. These attacks have heightened regional tension and attracted reprisals from the Saudi-led coalition.
Shabwa: a strategic and resource-rich province
Shabwa, an energy-rich coastal province overlooking the Gulf of Aden, is home to the Balhaf liquefied natural gas facility, Yemen's largest industrial investment. Control of the region is disputed by government forces, Houthis and separatist groups, making it a critical point in the conflict.
The strategic location of Shabwa, close to important sea routes, increases its military and economic relevance. The attack on the training camp may aim to weaken government forces before a possible offensive in the region.
Civil war and humanitarian crisis
The war in Yemen began with the Houthi takeover of Sanaa in 2014, which led the government to take refuge in the south. A Saudi-led intervention in 2015 resulted in a bloody stalemate ahead of a truce agreement in 2022, which lasted until this year.
Humanitarian agencies warn of the rapid deterioration of conditions in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Millions of Yemenis face hunger, disease and lack of access to basic services, and the escalation of fighting further worsens the situation.
The attack in Shabwa is one of the deadliest since the collapse of the truce and highlights the fragility of peace in Yemen. The international community is watching with concern the risk of an even greater escalation in the conflict.
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