Yemen’s Houthi rebels have killed at least 30 government soldiers and injured 15 in missile attacks on Yemeni military camps in Hadramout and Marib governorates, government sources told Al Jazeera. These strikes represent the deadliest violence in the country’s civil war in several years, signaling a significant deterioration in the security landscape.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the coordinated operation, which utilized both missiles and drones, resulted in “hundreds” of casualties. The Yemeni military confirmed the attacks occurred but framed the incident as a direct response to their own recent offensive operations against Houthi positions.
According to Yemeni military sources, the rebels fired eight missiles from the al-Jawf governorate, located north of Marib. The projectiles specifically targeted the al-Thiniya and al-Abr camps in Hadramout, as well as the al-Rouk site in Marib. Military officials warned that the casualty numbers were expected to rise as search and recovery efforts continue at the affected sites.
Yemen’s latest war began in 2014, when the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sanaa. A subsequent military intervention by a Saudi-led coalition began in 2015, yet the coalition has been unable to decisively defeat the Houthi forces. Fighting between the pro-Iranian rebels and Saudi-backed government forces has intensified recently, ending four years of relative calm.
Saree stated that Thursday’s assault followed significant “military build-ups” by Saudi-backed government forces, which he alleged were “aimed at escalating the conflict.” Both sides have been actively mobilizing troops in recent weeks, leading to increased clashes across western and central Yemen.
Tensions escalated significantly one month ago when the Houthis reported that an Iranian plane was prevented from landing at Sanaa airport. On July 13, the Yemeni government confirmed it struck the airport to block another Iranian aircraft. The Houthis retaliated by launching an attack on Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport, which Riyadh reported was successfully intercepted.
On July 20, the Houthis announced a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia and began targeting ships linked to the kingdom in the Red Sea. The Houthis have justified this blockade as a necessary response to the “Saudi siege” on territories under their control. These maritime attacks occur as the broader regional instability has disrupted shipping routes.
In response to the Houthi aggression, the Saudi-led coalition has launched a series of airstrikes on Houthi targets in western Yemen, marking the coalition’s first such offensive actions since 2022. The situation remains volatile as both parties continue to exchange fire, further complicating the humanitarian and security outlook for the region.
