At least 30 Yemeni government troops were killed on Thursday in Houthi missile and drone attacks on military camps in Marib and Hadramout provinces, Yemeni government sources said. They warned the toll could rise, while some reports put it as high as 58.
The Iran-aligned Houthis said they launched the attacks after observing a large Saudi military buildup and claimed military camps, weapons depots and vehicles were destroyed. Separately, Saudi Arabia said Houthi shelling in southern Najran province injured 11 civilians, including a four-year-old child.
At a glance:
- Yemeni government sources: at least 30 troops killed; some reports said as many as 58.
- Saudi Arabia: 11 civilians injured in shelling in Najran province.
- The injured included seven Saudis, one Yemeni, two Egyptians and one Pakistani national.
- Yemen’s defence ministry said its forces would respond at an unspecified time and place.
What happened in Yemen
The strikes targeted military camps in Marib and Hadramout, according to Yemeni government sources. The Houthis said the operation also destroyed weapons depots and vehicles after what they described as a significant Saudi military buildup.
Related coverage: Iran Attacks Tankers in Hormuz Strait as US War Efforts Stall.
Yemen’s defence ministry said its armed forces would respond “at the appropriate place and time”. The health minister ordered medical facilities to increase readiness to treat wounded soldiers, indicating that officials were preparing for further casualties.
Separate attack in Saudi Arabia
Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led military coalition supporting Yemen’s government, said Houthi shelling in southern Najran injured 11 civilians. The victims included seven Saudis, one Yemeni, two Egyptians and one Pakistani national.
Al-Maliki said the coalition would continue taking necessary measures to protect civilians. The Houthis and Iran had not immediately commented on the Saudi account.
More context: Iran and Oman Exchange Proposals on Managing the Strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Why the escalation matters
Yemen is being increasingly drawn into the wider US-Israeli war with Iran as the Houthis step up attacks on Yemeni government forces and Saudi Arabia, a US ally and supporter of Yemen’s internationally recognised government. The groups have competed for control of Yemen for more than a decade.
The recent status quo has unravelled over the past month, with Houthi attacks reported against Saudi Aramco oil facilities and the movement declaring a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea. The Houthis control Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, and much of the country’s Red Sea coastline.
Saudi warning and regional risks
A senior Saudi official said the kingdom expected imminent coordinated attacks from the north and south by Iraqi militias and the Houthis, under the supervision of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The official, who spoke anonymously, said intelligence from Saudi Arabia, the US and other regional countries indicated that civilian and economic sites, including energy infrastructure, ports and airports, could be targeted.
Also read: Eight shipping associations warn against Strait of Hormuz fees.
Saudi Arabia said it had observed drones and missiles being moved, suggesting coordinated operations from both directions. Separately, Iran and Oman said negotiations on an agreement concerning the Strait of Hormuz were in the final drafting stage; the waterway carries about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas.
Questions readers ask
How many people were killed in the Yemen attacks?
Yemeni government sources said at least 30 troops were killed and warned the death toll could rise. Some reports cited a figure as high as 58, but that higher number was not given as the government’s confirmed toll.
How many civilians were injured in Saudi Arabia?
Saudi military coalition spokesperson Maj Gen Turki al-Maliki said 11 civilians were injured in shelling in southern Najran province, including a four-year-old child.
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