CAIRO — Iran-backed Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile strike on a military camp in Yemen's southern province of Shabwa, killing at least 53 soldiers and wounding some 200 recruits, Yemeni military officials and provincial authorities reported Monday.
The deadly attack represents a major escalation following a summer resurgence in fighting that shattered a 2022 ceasefire deal. The provincial government in Shabwa warned that the death toll could climb further, describing the incident as an extreme military escalation and urging the Saudi-led coalition to provide reinforced air defense and early warning systems.
Rashad al-Alimi, the head of Yemen’s ruling Presidential Leadership Council, vowed a firm response to the strike. Meanwhile, a Houthi military spokesman claimed the targeted camp was operated by Saudi officers, though no evidence was provided and the Saudi government did not immediately comment.
The renewed violence in Yemen coincides with wider regional tensions, including Houthi claims of multiple attacks targeting infrastructure and airports in Saudi Arabia, which leads the coalition supporting Yemen's recognized government. Separately, local authorities in Marib reported Houthi ballistic missile strikes on the densely populated city, while Houthi-run health officials reported civilian casualties from separate mortar and airstrike incidents in Taiz and Saada provinces.