Houthi Missile Attack on Yemeni Military Camp Kills 58

At least 58 people have been killed in a missile attack on a government security forces training camp in Yemen's southern Shabwa province. More than 200 others were injured, and 14 people have been missing since the attack.

The attack struck Al-Alam camp on Monday (October 19), according to the province's governor, Awad al-Wazir.

Reuters-verified video shows wounded people lying on the ground at the camp alongside bloodied bodies after the strike. Citing local officials, Reuters reported that three ballistic missiles were fired at the camp while military training was under way. The Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility.

In a post on X, Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said his forces had targeted the training camp. He claimed the camp was being run by Saudi forces. There was no immediate comment from the Saudi government or its military.

Fighting between Yemeni government forces and the Houthis has intensified in recent times. Since September, the Houthis have advanced near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway at the entrance to the Red Sea, and exchanges of attacks between the two sides have grown fiercer. The internationally recognised Yemeni government, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, is carrying out operations to retake areas under Houthi control.

Shabwa is also strategically and economically significant. The energy-rich province on the Gulf of Aden is home to the Balhaf liquefied natural gas facility, known as Yemen's largest industrial investment. Escalating conflict in the region is therefore raising concerns over the country's security and energy sector.

Meanwhile, the Houthis are besieging the southern city of Taiz. The group is also attacking key Saudi facilities and infrastructure. The ongoing conflict has become entangled with wider regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

The current phase of Yemen's civil war began in 2014 with the Houthi seizure of the capital, Sanaa. The following year, a Saudi-led coalition intervened militarily to support the country's internationally recognised government. A 2022 truce eased the conflict somewhat, but the situation has deteriorated again this year. International aid agencies have warned that the prolonged war has deepened the crisis in food, healthcare and humanitarian assistance in Yemen.

Source: Reuters